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!
Cucina staff have had expert training from their nutritionist Dr Mabel Blades which has helped them pass a Level 2 Award in Health Food and Special Diets. The training was undertaken at Southfield School for Girls in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Diet is so important at schools, especially at a specialist sports college such as Southfield, and now thanks to Cucina, who took over the contract at Southfield last July, students and staff are getting the right balance of healthy food made with fresh ingredients.
Cucina’s managing director Steve Quinn, together with Cucina’s entire catering team, three suppliers and a Governor of the school, have all passed exams which tested their health and nutritional knowledge. Cucina’s professional attitude demonstrates their fresh approach to training. Questions varied from the benefits of eating foods from the main food groups, the importance of vitamins, minerals, the dangers of not eating a balanced diet, the composites of certain foods and what food can and cannot be eaten on special diets.
Steve Quinn said:
“At Cucina we think differently to most food service providers. We understand how nutrition plays a vital role in our overall health and well being, and if all of our team and extended team are equipped with the knowledge they need to do a great job, then this benefits everyone.”
The new menus at Southfield introduced by Cucina exceed food standards that were implemented in September last year. Teachers have noted an improvement in both energy levels and behaviour amongst students, as well as a reduction in litter and left-over food.
Dr Mabel Blades added:
“The health and nutrition training undertaken by Cucina at Southfield was rigorous and challenging, allowing all those that took part to pool their expertise in group discussions before the final exam. Cucina’s kitchen is a creative environment, which tempts children to eat as they would in an up-market bistro and Cucina’s staff are also fully aware of the recently introduced food standards. Southfield is the first school in Northamptonshire to make sure all of their staff are qualified to such a high level.”
The school meals standards highlight the importance of nutrition to a child’s diet as well as to their well-being and ability to learn. The new menu that Cucina introduced at Southfield replaced menus from Jamie Oliver. Menus change daily and every week and features a speciality dish each day, such as Italian Risotto or Moussaka with Crispy Aubergine Topping. Regular themes include Mexican and Indian food, as well as traditional British meals, such as Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. Staff are well looked after too – able to purchase a 14 inch stone baked pizza made with fresh ingredients on site for £5 to take home. Soon there will be rotisserie chicken and fresh pasta to take home too, based on the success of pizza sales.
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Notes to Editors
Cucina is a specialist food service company setting new benchmarks in both education and business sectors with higher standards, and provides an educational food service and not just an education food service.
Cucina started at Southfield School for Girls in Kettering, Northants in July 2006, prior to which less than 10 per cent of students and staff ate school meals. Most opted to bring in their own packed lunch which often included crisps and chocolate. Cucina was brought in to replace menus designed by Jamie Oliver, which had failed to inspire the pupils for the previous 18 months. More than two thirds of the 1,100 students and staff at Southfield now opt for school dinners thanks to catering expert Cucina’s involvement food sales have increased from £100 to £800 per day. Cucina also secured a new contract in December 2006 working with The Harefield Academy which is a specialist sports academy based in Watford. Already Cucina have increased food sales by 300% in the first month alone. The future also looks exciting with a further 14 contracts in the pipeline, all interested in benefiting from Cucina’s approach to food service.
Background to Cucina
The Cucina team has a passion for the relentless pursuit of excellence and believe in: - Providing tasty and nutritious food from innovative menus designed by nutrition expert Dr Mabel Blades. - Using fresh, local ingredients. - A “stealthy approach’ to eating where goodness is cleverly hidden in tasty food. - Educating as well as simply serving great food. Cucina’s menu offer and service style ensures that this is possible and link menus to the Curriculum. - Being an environmentally responsible company and thus recycle, reduce packaging, save energy and compost kitchen waste where ever possible. - Returning all supplier discounts to clients, retaining these to enhance earnings. - Providing a totally flexible partnership style from consultancy and executive lease to full management of services.
Cucina has been created by Steve Quinn, a food and support services professional with 24 years experience within the industry, working with international hotel groups such as Rank, Thistle, Hilton and Concorde (in France), as well as contract catering firms Sodexho (formerly Gardner Merchant) and the Compass Group.
Southfield Specialist Sports College for Girls has 960 pupils aged 11 to 18 and 140 staff. For more information visit: www.southfield.northants.sch.uk
The Harefield Academy has 750 pupils aged 11-18 and 250 sixth form students. For more information visit: www.theharefieldacademy.org
Photos available on request or downloadable at 300dpi plus at www.marketingprojects.co.uk in Cucina’s press office.
Press contact: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mobile: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mobile: 07884 493370 Marketing Projects PR info@marketingprojects.co.uk Tel: 01244 330000 www.marketingprojects.co.uk Contact: Steve Quinn Managing Director, Cucina Tel: 0845 3891320 www.cucina.co.uk Spectrum House Dunstable Road Redbourn St Albans Herts AL3 7PR
