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.
Cucina’s fast growing reputation, passion and enthusiasm for healthy eating won them the three-year contract and the 1,300 staff and pupils at Edgbarrow School, aged 11 to 18, are already enjoying the taste of Cucina’s freshly prepared food.
Innovative menus reviewed by a top nutritionist have been introduced to ensure that all pupils and staff benefit from fresh, great tasting food. Cucina adopt a “stealthy approach’ to eating healthily, where goodness is cleverly hidden in tasty, attractive food, so that favourite foods still remain on the menu.
Steve Quinn, managing director of Cucina, said: “We are delighted with our recent gain at Edgbarrow School and topping £1 million in less than a year is a great achievement. We are very pleased to be working with like-minded clients who firmly believe that a whole school approach is the best way to increase the numbers of pupils eating healthily. Afterall, food can only be healthy if it is consumed. Our experiences go to prove that the national decline in numbers can be reversed with the right partner.”
Jane Carpenter, Business and Enterprise Manager for Edgbarrrow School, added: “A disappointing number of our students were buying lunches before Cucina took over, but now take up has soared. The quality of food Cucina produce is excellent. 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. We and Cucina value our relationship and we are delighted with the regular and hands-on involvement of their Directors who have an obvious passion for what they do. The student council liked Cucina and the food that was provided when Cucina introduced themselves to the School. 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.”
Cucina’s expert nutritionist said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for children to enjoy nutritious meals based on quality ingredients and the students at Edgbarrow School are certainly doing that; not only does the food meet the recently introduced food standards but it also tempts them to try new things and have fun doing so.”
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Notes to Editors
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. 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 deliver specialist catering services to:
1. Southfield Specialist Schools for Girls, Kettering, Northants: Specialist Sports College with 1960 pupils aged 11-18, www.southfield.northants.sch.uk
2. The Harefield Academy, Middlesex: A Specialist Sports Academy with 660 pupils aged from 11-18 as well as Watford FC Academy Player www.theharefieldacademy.org
3. Sandhurst School, Berkshire: State Secondary School with 1200 pupils aged 11-18 www.sandhurst.bracknell-forest.sch.uk
4. Driffield Junior School, East Yorkshire: Junior School with 564 pupils aged 7-11
5. St.Mary’s Primary School, Northamptonshire: Primary School with 276 pupils
6. Edgbarrow School, Berkshire: State Secondary School with 1260 pupils aged from 11-18. www.edgbarrow.bracknell-forest.sch.uk
7. Staybridge Suites: A Food Service Consultancy Service www.staybridge.co.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 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: Food School 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: http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/59/news/751
Client Contact: Cucina Restaurants Ltd Telephone: 0845 3891320 Steve Quinn Email: steve@cucina.co.uk Managing Director Website: www.cucina.co.uk
