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Latest News Cucina: a fresh vision for food in the 21st century
Cucina has won the contract to provide catering services for more than 1,100 pupils and more than 100 staff at four primary schools in Cambridgeshire. Cucina will be delivering catering services to Abbey Meadows Primary School, Morley Memorial Primary School, Newnham Croft Primary School and Ridgefield Primary School in Cambridgeshire after Easter.
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Cucina re-invest in Education
Cucina has sponsored nationally recognised business Awards for education at a glittering ceremony in London. Two of the schools Cucina deliver catering services to, reached the final of the School Catering category for the Awards.
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Schoolkids and caterers raise £1,500 with food fun for Children in Need
A Pudsey shaped pizza was delivered to Children In Need along with a cheque for £1,500 by school caterers Cucina.
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Fresh start for new school year at Millbrook and St Andrews
Two new contracts to deliver fresh hot food replacing packed lunches have been won by catering experts Cucina. Millbrook Infant School with 350 pupils and St Andrew's C of E Primary School with 230 pupils, both based in Kettering, Northants are now benefiting from Cucina's unique approach to food.
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School Catering Excellence Award Win
The Harefield Academy has received The London Borough of Hillingdon School Catering Excellence Award 2007. Cucina's top international chef, Joe Kemel has accepted the Award on behalf of The Harefield Academy, Middlesex for the great tasting food he and his team serve pupils.
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Lucky Number 7 tops £1 million turnover for Cucina
Catering experts Cucina has topped the £1 million turnover mark in less than a year of trading. Since starting their seventh contract delivering catering services at Edgbarrow School, Berkshire in August 2007, Cucina has already exceeded all previous sales and surpassed all expectations.
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Food Based Standards
The Government has introduced new food based standards for school lunches from September 2006. These have been revised during the summer of 2007.
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What our customers are saying about us
Dr Phil Bassill, Director of Resources and Business Development, at The Harefield Academy said:
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Recipes from Cucina
Roasted Vegetables & Feta Cheese Salad
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Cucina's "innovative" approach makes the grade at Sandhurst
A new contract to deliver fresh, healthy food rather than "school food' has been won by catering experts Cucina. Sandhurst School, Berkshire, is an 11-19 year-old mixed comprehensive soon to benefit from Cucina's unique approach to food in September 2007.
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Cucina's Fresh Food Approach wins Again
Cucina is expanding across the country with their first school account in the North just 10 months after commencing operations. Cucina is to deliver catering services at Driffield Junior School in East Yorkshire.
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Top Cucina chef provides kitchen theatre for pupils
Cucina is setting a new benchmark for food in schools throughout the country by serving pupils tasty bistro-style food prepared by top chefs. Double rosette winning chef Andy Morris ensures that not only is food freshly prepared and exceeds nutrition guidelines, but the pupils also learn about different foods and are taught essential skills for life. All chefs working for Cucina, including Andy, also provide "Kitchen Theatre' making and preparing food visual, exciting, involving and educational for pupils.
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Haute cuisine for school canteen: International Chef joins Cucina at Harefield Academy
An exceptionally talented chef who has worked with some of the most famous names in cookery has joined the Cucina catering team. French chef Joe Kemel, who has cooked alongside Michelin Star chefs such as Jean-Christophe Novelli, is the new manager of catering services at The Harefield Academy. Cucina has recently won the contract to deliver catering services at The Harefield Academy in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
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Cucina experts back to school
Ten staff from catering experts Cucina have achieved A* for their knowledge of food. Cucina is dedicated to good health and nutrition, so much so that staff and even suppliers were put to the test recently and sent back to school……….literally!
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CASE STUDY: Catering experts cite choice and stealth as success factors for healthy eating in schools
More than two thirds of the 1,100 students and staff at Southfield School for Girls in Kettering, Northants now opt for school dinners thanks to catering expert Cucina's involvement. Diet is so important at schools, especially at a Specialist Sports College such as Southfield, and now thanks to Cucina, students and staff are getting the right balance of healthy food made with fresh ingredients. The new menus exceeded both the Government guidelines introduced earlier this year, and the nutrient based guidelines due to come into effect in 2009. Teachers have noted an improvement in both energy levels and behaviour amongst students, as well as a reduction in litter and left-over food.
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Cucina "Wows" sports Academy with fresh approach to food
Cucina will be starting the New Year with another contract at an Academy. Cucina is to deliver catering services at The Harefield Academy in Uxbridge, Middlesex. The Academy, which focuses on sport, health and well-being, was founded in September 2005 and it is hoped Cucina's growth will mirror The Academy's expansion and investment; nearly £30 million will be spent on new Academy buildings.
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Double World Record Holders for Children In Need
Girls at Southfield School, Kettering, have smashed two food related Guinness World Records whilst participating in fun activities to raise money for Children In Need. The week long challenges were run in association with Cucina, the food service company employed by the school.
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Healthy eating quadruples at Southfield in 'life after Jamie Oliver'
More than two thirds of the 1,100 students and staff at Southfield School for Girls in Kettering, Northants, now opt for school dinners thanks to catering expert Cucina's involvement. Diet is so important at schools, especially at a Specialist Sports College such as Southfield, and now thanks to Cucina, students and staff are getting the right balance of healthy food made with fresh ingredients. Cucina has already exceeded both the Government guidelines introduced earlier this year, and the nutrient based guidelines due to come into effect in 2009. Teachers have noted an improvement in both energy levels and behaviour amongst students, as well as a reduction in litter and left-over food.
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A Real Morning Break...
... might include a fresh fruit bag, peanut butter pinwheel, fruit pizza, daily fruit smoothie, carved ham & pineapple pizza slice.
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On Today's Breakfast Menu...?
The breakfast menu is designed to be carbohydrate rich to provide slow release energy until morning break and lunch time.
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On today's Lunch Menu....?
Juice Boost... One for everyone!
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About Cucina
Cucina is pronounced ‘Cuchina’, the Italian word for Kitchen or a place where food is prepared.
- Cucina is different from other outsourced catering organisations.
- Cucina sets new, higher standards.
- Cucina provides an educational food service, not simply an education food service. Students and guests gain essential life skills embracing healthy eating and learn that food is fun!
- Cucina’s expertise provides an improved service at a greater value. Far from costing more to switch to an improved service with Cucina, the costs could be lower.
- Cucina manages the whole process, removing any day to day concerns.
- Cucina enhances both the learning experience and the learning establishment.
What our customers are saying about us:
Simon Bamford, Assistant Headteacher for Sandhurst School, said:
“Just thought I’d write to let you know how happy we still are with the service provided by yourselves, Katy and the team. As usual with this sort of decision despite the rigours of the selection process there is always a nagging doubt about whether you are going to be able to deliver the service you promised. I am overjoyed that Katy and the team are providing everything we wanted in a caterer – the customers are happy and your staff seem happier in their work than I’d have ever believed possible under the old regime. We would happily vouch for Cucina and recommend them unreservedly. Katy has conclusively proved an excellent and very successful manager. I also need to thank you for your kind donation of the 70 aprons – I wasn’t aware that you had paid for them as well as arranging for their production.”
Dr Phil Bassill, Director of Resources and Business Development, at The Harefield Academy said:
“The Harefield Academy benefit from healthy, well prepared, exciting food from Cucina. We have seen Cucina’s positive influence on the students’ energy, behaviour and attention spans. Before Cucina was brought in, a significant number of students were choosing not to eat at The Academy restaurant, but Cucina has really turned this around.”
Lynda Lorentzen, Bursar for Southfield School for Girls Specialist Sports College, said:
“The first impact is the uptake of food, which has quadrupled since Cucina became involved. The first day Steve took over we took more money in a day than we used to in a week and now over 500 girls enjoy a cooked meal at lunch time. Sixth formers who have never had school food are now converts. The girls’ behaviour is improving because they are eating better quality food at break time and at lunch and a more balanced diet. This increase in usage has also allowed us to practically eliminate our hefty catering costs so we are delighted on all fronts. We are extremely happy with Cucina and so are the girls. The variety of food on offer is great and has introduced our girls to new dishes from around the world. The standard of food at Southfield now wouldn’t be out of place in a restaurant and all the fresh fruit and vegetables on offer ensure that the girls get the nutrients they need. What’s more, no-one has missed the chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks!”
Bursar for Sandhurst School Colin Summersgill said:
“The school were looking for a company that would offer good quality food as well as a service responsive to the needs of students and staff. It was felt from the presentations and from visiting existing Cucina sites, that Cucina could offer the school what it was looking for. Their staff seemed genuinely interested in providing good quality, tasty and healthy food. Cucina’s innovative ideas on the food offer, for example, wishing to promote healthy food using the concept of stealthy eating, made them stand out from the competition. The food that Cucina produce is excellent and their innovative approach to menus incorporates new legislation in a way that most students will actually choose to eat. Their desire to become involved with the school curriculum and wider school life also contributed to Sandhurst choosing Cucina. Throughout the extensive selection process, Cucina were the unanimous choice of all involved in every aspect of their work. ”
Jane Carpenter, Business and Enterprise Manager for Edgebarrrow School, added:
“Very few of our students were buying lunches before Cucina took over, but now take up has soared. The quality of food Cucina produce is excellent and ‘stealthy eating’ is a great concept. We are delighted with Cucina’s start and are looking forward to a continuing positive and profitable relationship. Cucina is a young, enthusiastic, exciting and innovative company. The relationship is as important to them as it is to us. Cucina incorporate the hands on involvement of their directors and they have an obvious passion for what they do. The student council liked Cucina and the food that was provided when Cucina pitched for the work. Individual personalities definitely stand out. Cucina has a desire to be part of the School, rather than just being our caterers. Cucina provide high quality food in line with Government guidelines, but still accommodate the needs of all our school community.”
Bursar for Driffield Junior School Karen Hamilton said:
“Cucina impressed us with their quality of food, enthusiasm and the team’s approach. Cucina stood out from other companies who tendered because of their overall package of quality food, personable staff and because of their plans for development. We hope Cucina continue to develop the healthy eating theme, providing the best possible meals for our pupils, whilst further increasing the uptake of school meals by pupils.”
More information on Food Based Standards is available at:
Cucina is sponsoring the Catering Award for the Education Business Awards held at Westminster on November 23 www.ebawards.co.uk
www.deliciouslyyorkshire.co.uk
To receive the Times Education Supplement coverage of Cucina at Southfield School for Girls Specialist Sports College in pdf format or the MP3: BBC Radio Northampton coverage of Cucina with interviews at Southfield School for Girls Specialist Sports College email us stating the file required info@marketingprojects.co.uk
