Eden Foodservice extends Kent school meals deal

Eden Foodservice has secured a two-year, £10m total turnover extension to its Kent school meals contract.

The schools caterer, part of Rentokil Initial, will continue to provide catering at 181 primary and secondary schools in the county.

Since picking up its original deal in 2006, Eden has introduced an online payment service that enables parents to pay for their children’s meals in advance. Currently more than a quarter of school meals supplied by the caterer are paid for this way.

Mark Sleep, client services manager for Kent County Council, said: “We have worked closely with Eden Foodservice to ensure that all meals meet the Government’s food and nutrient standards, whilst developing menus that appeal to young people.

“We are looking forward to building on this relationship over the next two years and introducing further initiatives that will promote school meals within the region.”

Kent was forced to re-tender its school meals contract in 2006 after too few caterers showed an interest, in the wake of Jamie Oliver’s high profile school dinners campaign.

Although Eden initially said it would not take part in the re-tender, the company and Compass Group were brought back to the table and subsequently awarded catering deals in the county.

Compass-owned Chartwells recently landed an extension to its 2006 deal and is continuing to feed pupils at 94 primary schools in Kent.

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By Chris Druce

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