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.
Driffield, which is the largest Junior School in East Yorkshire, opted out of the Local Education Authority provision three years ago when a new kitchen was built. Standards were improved by caterers Harrison but now the School is looking to further develop standards with Cucina’s expertise and quality food provision.
Cucina’s passion and enthusiasm for healthy eating won them the contract and the 564 pupils at Driffield, aged seven to 11, are already enjoying the taste of Cucina’s freshly prepared food.
School Business Manager 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.”
Steve Quinn, managing director of Cucina, added: “We are delighted with our recent gain at Driffield Junior School. It gives us yet another opportunity to see how far we can increase the uptake of the School Meals. We believe passionately that food has a vital role in our well-being and are confident that our food and approach will be a big hit here. We will provide one of our top Chefs to train the existing staff. Cucina’s experience at other schools makes us certain that good fresh food can increase student numbers eating healthily, even though the trend nationally seems to disagree with us, following the introduction of the new food based standards last September. We are certainly finding that a different approach can and does buck this trend.”
Cucina’s nutritionist Dr Mabel Blades said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for children to enjoy nutritious meals based on quality foods and the students at Driffield Junior School are certainly doing that; not only does the food meet the newly introduced food standards but it is also tempts them to try new things and have fun doing so.”
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Notes to Editors
Photos available on request or downloadable at 300dpi plus at www.marketingprojects.co.uk in Cucina’s press office.
Cucina is a specialist food service company setting new benchmarks for education and business. Higher standards provide an educational food service, not just an education food service.
Cucina’s first contract was for 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.
Background to Cucina
The Cucina team believe in: · A “stealthy approach’ to eating healthily, where goodness is cleverly hidden in tasty food. · Providing tasty and nutritious food from innovative menus designed by nutrition expert Dr Mabel Blades. · Using fresh, local ingredients. · 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 was founded 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
Cucina’s first contract was for 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.
Another case study is available for The Harefield Academy which has 650 pupils aged 11 to 18. For more information visit: www.theharefieldacademy.org
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 steve@cucina.org.uk Tel: 0845 3891320 www.cucina.co.uk Spectrum House Dunstable Road Redbourn St Albans Herts AL3 7PR
