Ventrus Multi Academy Trust Managed Catering Service

The proposed contract will be for a managed catering service to support the delivery of in-house catering in accordance with this service specification and the associated tender documents.

The Trust wish to keep the ethos of the in-house catering model whilst utilising the additional expertise and support of the Contractor. It is the expectation that this managed catering service offer will deliver efficiencies and reduce current cost per plate whilst ensuring a high standard of food quality to deliver the proposed menu.

The Contractor is required to work in partnership with the Trust, offering clear lines of communication and ensuring cohesion with the roles and responsibilities as identified in this Specification of Requirement.

It is the expectation that the Contractor shall provide:

a. The provision of a locally sourced food supply, that enables the Trust to benefit from the Contractors buying power and expertise in how to order food supplies in accordance with the menus, which reduce food waste, and ensures the right good quality ingredients have been procured and support serving good quality meals to pupils and staff.

b. Full menu planning with associated electronic food ordering and invoicing, including recipe instructions, and associated training to make the meals, resulting in providing a range of good quality, nutritious, attractively presented meals for pupils and staff, that comply with Government’s minimum nutritional and food- based standards for the educational sector. Meals should reflect growth in healthy eating trends, promote uptake, and comply with the Ofsted guidance for catering.

c. Training of the catering team to ensure they can cook and serve the proposed menus and provide high quality meals, keeping to the set age-appropriate portion sizes and ensuring they are in accordance with the contracted cost per plate.

d. A compliance and audit service with associated reporting and training that ensures the schools are meeting required legal and H&S and food safety requirements.

e. Partnership working with the Trust Catering Manager and the schools in accordance with the agreed set of roles and responsibilities as set out in this Service Specification. The Trust will liaise with the Contractor during the mobilisation phase and agree SLA and set KPIs. The Contractor is required to deliver against the agreed SLA/KPI metrics consistently and effectively.

f. To identify areas that will have potential benefit to the Trust and propose innovations to support the Trust to further improve the existing catering facilities and the catering service experience for all pupils, staff, parents and carers.