Leading education caterer Dolce Schools Catering has announced a record year for new business, securing 29 new catering contracts covering 126 schools ahead of the new academic year. The latest contract wins will see Dolce providing school meals to over 700 primary and secondary schools from September 2026 – with projected annual revenue reaching over…
The UK’s leading catering consultancy The Litmus Partnership has launched the pilot of a pioneering new Consumer Insight (CI) programme designed specifically for special schools, marking it as the first initiative of its kind in the sector. Recognising that traditional written surveys aren’t always the most effective way to capture feedback from pupils with…
With under two months until the expansion of Free School Meals eligibility in England takes effect in September 2026, new research* has found that while awareness of the changes is growing, many families remain unclear about what the changes mean for them and the steps they need to take. The survey – led by The…
With more than 850 schools reportedly closing or shutting early during the heatwave, school kitchens and catering teams may be left managing large volumes of meals and ingredients at short notice. Estimated school meal food at risk during heatwave closures Affected schools (Lower-Higher estimate)Estimated pupils affectedEstimated school meals affectedEstimated food at risk (tonnes)Estimated meal value…
From hot honey glazed turkey and truffle loaded sharing dishes to mini savoury croissants and decadent doughnuts, Creed Foodservice has launched its Christmas 2026 range, designed to help operators capitalise on the season’s biggest trends: Newstalgia, experience-led dining and social connection. The collection reflects growing consumer demand for festive food that delivers both comfort and…
Chartwells, the UK’s leading school and education catering provider, has launched its new spring/summer 2026 menus across partner primary and secondary schools, with a strong fibre-forward focus. The launch comes as the Department for Education consults on updates to the School Food Standards (SFS) for the first time in over a decade, reflecting changes…
National Fish and Chip Day shines spotlight on rising costs facing caterers Britain’s favourite takeaway – with UK consumers eating an estimated 382 million fish and chip shop meals every year[1] – has surged in cost in recent years, with some classic fish and chip shop staples more than doubling in price since 2021, according to…
Dolce Schools Catering has announced new partnerships with Olio and ReFood as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste across the schools it serves. The collaborations will enable Dolce – which caters for 1 in 20 schools in England and strong growth across Wales – to further minimise the environmental impact…
Brand takes top honour in ‘Cornish Pasty Company’ category at the Global Pasty Awards and ‘Vegan category’ at the British Pie Awards. The Phat Pasty Co has scooped two awards in one week – the ‘Cornish Pasty Company’ category at the inaugural Global Pasty Championships and the ‘Vegan’ category at the British Pie Awards 2026. Starting…
Quenelles, the UK’s leading benchmarking specialist for the hospitality sector, has revealed new data highlighting the impact of Veganuary on product purchasing trends across the industry. As Veganuary celebrates a record-breaking 2026 campaign – with around 30 million people worldwide estimated to have taken part[1] – hospitality operators are continuing to respond to evolving consumer demand…
Dolce Schools Catering has been named in the top three of the ProVeg UK Contract Caterer Ranking 2025/26, cementing its position as one of England’s most plant-forward and planet-friendly school caterers. Now in its second year, ProVeg UK’s Contract Caterer Ranking recognises contract caterers that put health and sustainability at the heart of their school…
Right now, more and more stories are emerging around councils reviewing or abandoning their catering services, caterers ceasing to trade, and school leaders making financial sacrifices so pupils get fed. And with one study already predicting schools could be footing the bill to the tune of more than £310 million, Seb Godwin of Procure Education…
As school budgets tighten and the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, one of the most urgent, yet under-discussed, pressures in our schools is on their catering provisions. According to Seb Godwin, co-founder of Procure Education, the root problem doesn’t always lie with suppliers, but with how contracts are funded, procured, and managed. Far too often,…
The cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has soared by a third in the past five years, according to new analysis from Quenelles, the UK’s leading food benchmarking service. With the festive season fast approaching – and catering teams across the country preparing their Christmas menus – Quenelles has crunched the numbers to reveal just…
Following a year of outstanding growth and a renewed focus on foodservice and purchasing solutions, leading catering consultancy The Litmus Partnership has unveiled a refreshed brand identity that reflects the company’s evolution and ambitious future direction. Since 1 January 2025, Litmus has welcomed nearly 50 new clients – many of which are Multi-Academy Trusts encompassing multiple…
School catering specialist, Olive Dining, is proud to be supporting this year’s British Food Fortnight – the annual campaign created by not-for-profit organisation, Love British Food. Now in its 24th year, British Food Fortnight is the focal point of Love British Food’s activities and celebrates the diverse and delicious food produced by our nation….
The Phat Pasty Co has announced that it has joined the Red Tractor community for its full range of pasties, sausage rolls and savouries, all made in Cornwall. Becoming Red Tractor licensed reinforces Phat Pasty’s long-standing commitment to British quality and sustainability. From the very beginning, Phat has only ever used British farm-assured meat in its…
Exclusive catering service for the education sector, Olive Dining, has joined forces with Partnership Learning – a multi-academy Trust overseeing 18 schools across London and Essex. The three-year partnership will see Olive Dining create and deliver bespoke menus for five secondary schools, five primary schools and one Special Education Needs (SEN) school – with…
Award-winning caterer now serving 1 in 20 schools across England Family-run, independent education caterer Dolce Schools Catering has announced it will begin working with 102 new schools from the start of the new academic year, following a highly successful tendering period. The new contracts bring Dolce’s total daily meal provision to over 130,000 pupils…
PGL Travel has announced that all its UK activity centres, which run kids’ adventure camps and family breaks throughout the school holidays, are now Gluten Free Accredited by Coeliac UK, and its menus will carry the charity’s trusted GFA symbol. Coeliac disease differs from a food allergy in that it is an autoimmune condition triggered…
Independents by Sodexo has been awarded a prestigious five-year contract to deliver bespoke catering services at King’s School Rochester, the second oldest school in England. The partnership will see Sodexo serve over 130,000 meals each academic year, enhancing the dining experience for both boarding and day pupils across the Junior and Senior schools. …
Against a backdrop of ongoing economic uncertainty and rising food costs, the UK’s leading food benchmarking service, is celebrating its strongest year to date as demand for food procurement insights surges across the education sector. Now in its 30th year, Quenelles has seen revenue grow by 20% year-on-year, with both an increase in new client numbers and…
New research from one of the UK’s leading wholesalers – Creed Foodservice – reveals how nutrition at school is affecting teenagers’ mood, behaviour and academic focus – with parents noticing the impact as soon as their children return home. The national survey of UK parents reveals how their child is affected when they haven’t had nutritious,…
The Phat Pasty Co has unveiled its latest innovation for the education catering sector – the Phat Eat Better sausage rolls. Designed to support the drive for improved sustainability, British-sourced ingredients, and better nutrition across public sector catering, these new hybrid sausage rolls offer a smarter solution for school menus. Crafted with a 50/50 blend…
Chartwells, the UK’s leading school and education catering provider, has secured catering contracts with five schools within the Halliard Trust, building on its growing presence in Cheshire. The mobilisation follows the closure of the schools’ previous council-run school meal service in April 2025. With oversight from the Trust’s central team, the five affected schools…
