School caterer Cucina has achieved its target of profitability two years on from launching its first contract at Southfields School for Girls in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
The caterer, set up by Stephen Quinn - previously a regional director for education with Compass Group - has added seven new schools and colleges to its books taking annual turnover to more than £2.5m.
Quinn told Caterersearch: “We needed to achieve critical mass. We’re now in a position where we will turn a profit during a full 12 [months of trading].”
New deals include Esher Church of England High School in Surrey; Marlborough School Science College in St Albans, Hertfordshire and Parkside Community College in Cambridgeshire.
Quinn said that ultimately he didn’t see the company growing much larger than 50 contracts as the quality of the business would suffer.
He is also looking at setting up a central production kitchen to make items, such as sauces, that are typically bought in at the moment.
Cucina currently caterers for 15,000 pupils and students at 23 education contracts across England.
For more see our dedicated school meals page and contract catering page.
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By Chris Druce
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