Prestigious Sevenoaks School appoints Sodexo as new food services partner

One of the UK’s oldest schools, Sevenoaks School, has appointed Independents by Sodexo to deliver the catering services at the co-educational day and boarding school.

The new seven-year contract started in mid-August enabling Sodexo to prepare ahead of the new academic year. The contract includes the daily delivery of breakfast, lunch and supper service for the 1,200 students and approximately 500 staff all of which are provided in the school’s dining hall and cafe.

With 76 nationalities represented in the student population Sodexo’s menus will include a wide range of tasty and nutritious international dishes. Sodexo’s breakfast offering will include popular global options including a congee bar, Korean kimchi rice, Shakshuka and huevos rancheros. The evening supper service will focus on providing the school’s international students with a feel of home with street food pop ups, international dishes and themed nights.

Lunch service for the whole school will see both traditional and global dishes on the menu, all developed under Sodexo’s Powering Performance programme which has been developed to empower Sodexo’s chefs to serve dishes that meet the nutritional needs of young people as well as helping students make informed choices when it comes to food and drink.

With a shared commitment to sustainability Sodexo’s new menus will include low carbon dishes and recipes which have been produced using ‘wonky fruit and vegetables’, grade B produce which would otherwise go to landfill. Carbon labelling will be used to help raise awareness amongst students and staff on the impact their food choices have on the planet.

Tackling food waste is also a high priority for Sodexo and in addition to reducing food waste by using wonky fruit and vegetables in its dishes Sodexo will implement WasteWatch, its food waste management programme, to enable the catering team to minimise waste and improve kitchen practices.

Beyond the regular meals, Sodexo’s contract also includes the school cafe, hospitality and event catering and school meals for international students attending summer camps at the school.

Simon Knight, managing director for Independents by Sodexo said: “Sevenoaks School has an unrivalled academic reputation but also a strong focus on its sustainability goals and a firm commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. As a purpose-led business, we are like-minded in our ethos, and we look forward to working in partnership with the school not only in delivering the very best in food services to elevate the pupil experiences but also in sharing our initiatives to help the school meet their goals.”

Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks School is a pioneering and inclusive school with sustainability central to its strategic aims. Global in its outlook and rooted in the local community, it is committed to developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people, empowered with the skills to create a better and more peaceful world.

Dr B McAhron, bursar at Sevenoaks School added: “We are committed to being a school community that is pioneering, inclusive, responsible and sustainable. These principles guide our decision-making as we work towards delivering our vision for the school’s future. Independents by Sodexo is a company that not only delivers delicious, fresh and sustainable food but one which has similar goals and is committed to ensuring it has a positive impact on the planet, people and the community as has many exciting initiatives which we look forward to being introduced at our school.”