Education catering provider HCL has reported its busiest year to date, having mobilised 43 new school catering sites in a single week as part of its ongoing UK expansion strategy.
The Hertfordshire-based company has extended its operations across the country, securing contracts with schools from the South Coast to the Midlands. The latest agreements bring the number of schools served by HCL to nearly 500, with the business supplying millions of meals annually.
The expansion forms part of HCL’s five-year growth plan, which aims to double the number of meals it provides while extending its geographical coverage beyond its established Hertfordshire base.
John Want, CEO of HCL, said: “We are delighted to be on track for our Five Year Plan of doubling our meal numbers, expanding in all directions from our base in Hertfordshire, with a particularly busy Summer in the Midlands. Schools are looking for high quality meals that will consistently support increasing uptake from pupils, and this comes from our appealing menus, with inclusive options for all dietary and religious requirements, together with excellent allergy management systems.“
A significant focus of the company’s recent contract mobilisations has been transitioning schools away from microwave-prepared and pre-made meals towards freshly cooked food prepared on site each day.
HCL has worked alongside school kitchen teams to support this transition through investment in kitchen refurbishments, staff recruitment and training. The changes are intended to improve meal quality and the overall dining experience for pupils and staff.
The company’s marketing and operations teams have also collaborated with schools to engage parents, communicate changes to meal provision and highlight the benefits of freshly prepared school lunches.
Want added: “I personally feel that microwaved meals have no place in schools as they cannot fulfil every child’s individual needs and quality is poor. The outcome we have seen in switching to freshly-made is that pupils engage more in lunch with high quality, nutritious and tasty meals that give them variety and the energy to learn through the whole day.”
The latest contract wins mark further progress towards HCL’s expansion targets, with the business continuing to focus on school meal uptake, menu development and the provision of freshly prepared food across its growing education catering portfolio.