Cucina"s "unique approach" now makes fresh food inviting for 15,000 pupils every day!
Catering expert Cucina is trebling food sales at schools up and down the country, following seven recent contract wins.
Cucina, which now has a turnover of more than £2.5 million after two years of trading, is making food available to more than 7,000 further pupils at Arthur Mellows Village School in Peterborough, Audenshaw School in Manchester, Drayton Manor High School in Ealing, London, Esher Church of England High School in Surrey, Marlborough School Science College in St Albans, Hertfordshire and to Coleridge Community School and Parkside Community College in Cambridgeshire.
Cucina provides restaurant quality food and have installed professional chefs to run its operations throughout Cucina operations. Cucina uses fresh ingredients which are locally sourced.
Steve Quinn, Managing Director of Cucina, said: “We are delighted with so many new gains and are pleased that our fresh food approach is separating us from our competitors. We are keen to try new ideas, providing more opportunities for pupils to learn about food nutrition. Our chef”s theatre shows pupils their food being made and gives them the chance to take part. We have seen sales as much as treble at our many new school contracts and it”s nice to be enticing so many new customers.”
Nicola Hazelwood, Bursar for Esher Church of England High School, said: “We were impressed by Cucina”s enthusiasm, their knowledge of food and their fresh ideas. It was Cucina”s whole approach to school catering that impressed us and is why we chose them. The students love the food. “Cucina”s approach is trendy and appeals to the students; it is not staid and traditional, but is vibrant and unique. Cucina have brightened up the service, with clear pricing and a modern, bright approach. “Our expectations for Cucina, which we are sure will be fulfilled, are that they will increase the student”s awareness of a range and variety of food and that Cucina will become integrated and part of the whole life of the school. School life is about happy, healthy well fed students and Cucina will play a key role in this.”
Steve Turner, Headmaster of Audenshaw School, said: “We were impressed by Cucina”s enthusiasm for food. Cucina give a more personal service than larger catering companies. Cucina are real “foodies” who provide interesting menus and their theatre of food was the biggest seller to us. In these terms, of the companies who tendered for the contract, they were unique. Since Cucina started, the service looks more professional and commercial, with clear signage and colour schemes more in keeping with a restaurant, rather than a school canteen. The food that Cucina produce is of an excellent quality. They use fresh, well sourced ingredients which are very well presented. I like the relationship that the chefs and ladies in the canteen now have when they serve the pupils – there is a good rapport. I am very impressed with my ability, as Headmaster, to have direct line communication with Steve Quinn. I like his hands on style. I feel I have more of an influence than when we used a multi-national company and if I have any issues they are dealt with straight away. There has been some very positive feedback from the pupils and also the staff so far. Cucina have not disappointed and have made a real impression. At present, I can”t fault Cucina. They have put in experienced chefs and maintained the high quality.”
Jonathan Oakley, Deputy Head Teacher at Arthur Mellows Village College, said: “Cucina are passionate about food. Cucina have a professional and honest relationship with their clients. We are hopeful that Cucina will revolutionize the students and staff attitudes towards food, encouraging them to eat healthy, fresh and different foods and taking advantage of local suppliers. The roast dinner Cucina provide is particularly outstanding. Fresh meat is carved on the front counter in front of the students and the roasted vegetables seasoned with herbs are excellent.”
Diana Dean, Business Manager for Marlborough School Science College, said: “We chose Cucina because they came across as being different to the other traditional catering companies. Already we have seen a big increase in the uptake of the lunches and the canteen is really busy over both lunches. We needed new, fresh ideas. Our expectation from Cucina is that they will very much work with the School and that it should more of a partnership. There are lots of cross curriculum activities that we would like them to get involved in, and already we have a student who works in the kitchen once a week supporting the staff as part of his alternative curriculum arrangements.”
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PHOTOS (300dpi+) and more information at http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/cucina
Notes to Editors Cucina was founded by Steve Quinn, a food and support services professional with 26 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. Steve works with a team of top chefs and professionals to ensure that his vision of great food is truly embraced and delivered.
Cucina”s restaurants are fast growing and currently include:
1. Southfield Specialist School for Girls, Kettering, Northants: Specialist Sports College with 960 pupils aged 11-18, www.southfield.northants.sch.uk
2. The Harefield Academy, Middlesex: A Specialist Sports Academy with 860 pupils aged from 11-18 as well as Watford FC Academy Players www.theharefieldacademy.org
3. Sandhurst School, Berkshire: State Secondary School with 1200 pupils aged 11-18 www.sandhurst.bracknell-forest.sch.uk
4. Edgbarrow School, Berkshire: State Secondary School with 1260 pupils aged from 11-18. www.edgbarrow.bracknell-forest.sch.uk
5. Audenshaw School, Manchester: State Secondary School with 1,260 pupils www.audenshawschool.org.uk
6. Arthur Mellows Village School, Peterborough: State Secondary School with 1,344 pupils www.arthurmellows.peterborough.sch.uk
7. Esher Church of England High School, Surrey: High School with 950 pupils aged from 11-16
8. Drayton Manor High School, London: State Secondary School with 1,545 pupils www.draytonmanor.ealing.sch.uk
9. Marlborough School Science College, St. Albans, Hertfordshire: State Secondary School with 1,150 pupils www.marlborough.herts.sch.uk
10. Parkside Community College, Cambridgeshire: College with 604 pupils www.parksidefederation.org.uk
11. Coleridge Community College, Cambridgeshire: College with 410 pupils www.parksidefederation.org.uk
12. Abbey Meadows Primary School, Cambridgeshire: Primary School with 320 pupils www.abbeymeadows.co.uk
13. Morley Memorial Primary School, Cambridgeshire: Primary School with 409 pupils
14. Newnham Croft Primary School, Cambridgeshire: Primary School with 239 pupils
15. Ridgefield Primary School, Cambridgeshire: Primary School with 200 pupils
16. Driffield Junior School, East Yorkshire: Junior School with 564 pupils aged 7-11
17. St Mary”s Primary School, Northamptonshire: Primary School with 276 pupils
18. Millbrook Infants School, Northants: Infant School with 350 pupils aged 5-11
19. St. Andrew’s C of E Primary School, Northants: Junior School with 230 pupils www.standrewsschoolkettering.ik.org
20. Pytchley Endowed Church of England Primary School, Kettering: State Primary School with 71 pupils
21. Harefield Junior School, Middlesex: State Primary School with 239 pupils. www.harefield-jun.hillingdon.sch.uk
What Clients say about Cucina:
Lynda Lorentzen, bursar for Southfield School for Girls Specialist College, said:
“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”. Prior to Cucina”s involvement, less than 10 per cent of students and staff paid for school meals and most opted to bring in their own packed lunch which often included crisps and chocolate. Now more than 500 girls enjoy a cooked meal at lunch time”.
6th former Cassie Watts was one of the students on the selection panel for the new catering contract at Southfield School for Girls said: “I chose Cucina because when they made their presentation they spoke to us, not just to the adults. After all we”re their biggest customers, not the adults. And they have delivered exactly what they said they would. It”s the best decision we ever made”
Dr Phil Bassill, Director of Resources and Business Development, at The Harefield Academy said: “The children at 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.”
Contact Cucina
Press Office: Marketing Projects Telephone: 01244 330000 Jane Harrad-Roberts Mobile: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mobile: 07884 493370 info@marketingprojects.co.uk www.marketingprojects.co.uk
Please view the website for press releases or photos which are available on request at www.marketingprojects.co.uk in Cucina”s press office.
Recent press stories:
The Guardian: Southfield School for Girls pupils are fully engaged in their meal choices and are now eating healthily thanks to Cucina http://education.guardian.co.uk/schoolmeals/story/0,,2186556,00.html
School Food Trust: Cucina inspiring dissatisfied students to give school meals a try again: http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/stacker_detail.asp?Contentid=465
Times Education Supplement: School meal takings have soared as heavenly gastro grub has kicked Jamie Oliver into touch. http://www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2316530
For Cucina”s top recipes: http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/59/news/736
For more information on the Food Based Standards visit: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
Client Contact: Cucina Restaurants Ltd Telephone: 0845 3891320 Steve Quinn Email: steve@cucina.co.uk Managing Director Website: www.cucina.co.uk
