Eden Foodservice has been awarded a three-year contract worth £12m by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to provide school meals across the London borough.
Under the agreement, commencing at the beginning of November, Eden will provide a range of catering services to more than 14,000 pupils at more than 50 schools within the area.
The caterer – part of Rentokil Initial - will provide breakfast, mid-morning break and lunch to 31 primary schools, five secondary schools, five special schools, five independent schools, four nurseries, one sixth form college and a pupil referral unit.
Fulham has the highest uptake of school meals within the UK in primary, nursery and special schools, at 67.9%.
Eden has been tasked with building on this existing success by implementing a sustainable catering programme with a range of meal options, prepared on-site using fresh ingredients, that encourages uptake and promotes healthy eating among pupils.
Around 245 members of the existing in-house catering team will transfer to Eden under Tupe regulations.
Councillor Sarah Gore, Hammersmith & Fulham’s acting cabinet member for children's services said: "This contract will ensure that more is spent on the most critical input into any meal, namely, the ingredients. We are confident that our schools, children, parents and carers will be very pleased with what Eden will provide at no additional cost.
“We currently have the highest proportion of children within the UK eating a school lunch and we hope that this proportion will increase further with Eden Foodservice,” she added. “We will be working closely with it to make sure we provide top class, healthy meals for children in our schools.”
Eden Foodservice extends Kent school meals deal >>
Eden Foodservice wins £2.7m Devon school meals deal >>
Eden Foodservice wins Wales school meals contract >>
Eden Foodservice wins £40m Bristol school meals deal >>
Eden Foodservice extends Bristol school meals contract >>
By Daniel Thomas
E-mail your comments to Caterer News here.
If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk
Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next hotel job here with Caterersearch.com jobs