Members of the catering teams from across the Trust, including Dale Campbell from Brooke Weston Academy, visited the Brakes food exhibition showcasing the latest food innovations available from the company.
Brakes is the main supplier for Trust food and so the fact-finding visit meant that our catering managers could see and sample new products. Due to the visit they will be introducing large catering packs of sauces to cut down on plastics in single serving sachets and there will also be a revamped Christmas dinner as they are ordering up to 7,000 stuffed turkey ballotines and all the trimmings for the festive meal in our schools.
Trust Catering Manager Chris Lapsley said: 'Myself and five catering managers attended; Dale Campbell from BWA, Steve Allder from CBA, Debbie McKay from Peckover and Kevin Dainty from Beanfield. We went to the O2 where Brakes had put on a new food launch with everything that is available in the next catalogue. We got to taste it all and see chefs demonstrating with it. We met people including depot managers and telesales leads so that was good in building relationships.
‘This visit was such a success that it is something I want to do once a year with all the catering managers. Heinz has new pump dispensers which we will be introducing to cut down on our plastic usage and decrease wastage. There was a massive Christmas stand and the turkey ballotines look great so we have ordered those as we serve between 6,500 and 7,000 Christmas dinners each year and this year it is all going to be gluten free as well.'