As part of our commitment to supporting the school meals industry, we organised 14 successful nationwide seminars in 2007.

 

Our aim is to bring together industry experts on nutrition and marketing, as well as like forward-thinking companies and suppliers, to tackle the key issues and challenges facing our customers.

The first run in February focussed on new finding solutions for secondary school break times, in light of the food based standards introduced for September 2007.

The events were held in conjunction with high-profile market suppliers; RHM Foodservice (now Premier Foods), Calypso Drinks and Cunninghams cashless payment systems. The events were attended by more than 80 local authorities and contract caterers.

A follow up letter was answered by over 100 authorities, requesting the topics of our next run of seminars on menu planning and marketing. Take a look below to see the review of this run..

If you would like us to keep you posted of any forthcoming events, please email your details over to Barry Jordan.

School catering seminars tackle marketing and menu planning headaches...  

School caterers from more than 80 local authorities and contract caterers took the chance to discuss their problems with the Green Gourmet team at the seminars we ran during June at six conference venues around the UK. 

They were held at the suggestion of our clients to focus on the following key areas which are causing headaches to so many:

- Planning menus to meet the new nutritional standards

- Selling the package

 

- How to communicate your service to parents, head teachers and children

 

Green Gourmet Nutritionist Rachel Brown explained how to plan menus with the correct nutrition, while Nigel Argyle of Elygra Marketing and Chris Newton, Green Gourmet’s marketing communications consultant, dealt with marketing issues and communicating more effectively with words.

 

Many schools - particularly secondaries - tell us they are scratching their heads over ways of providing cost-effective, nutritious alternatives to the ‘fast foods’ so popular with children but now outlawed by the School Food Trust, and then getting youngsters to accept them so that turnover is maintained. The seminars were designed to help them find ways round some of these problems. 

Rachel Brown, Nutrition Services Manager, Green Gourmet

Presentation - Getting the menu right (312kb pdf)
Workshop - Planning & compliant menu (272kb pdf)

Chris Newton, PR Consultant

Presentation - Better communication with head teachers, parents, children and the press (80kb pdf)
Workshop Notes - Getting your message across (1.6mb pdf)

"An excellent event. Occasionally we need to find time to step back and look at the whole picture - we can all learn from others, and networking is invaluable" - Ian Kemp, Catering Manager, Denbighshire Council

 

“I found the day very helpful. I see Green Gourmet as a forward-thinking company in helping us with our menu solutions” - Susan Morris, Foodservice Options

 

“The event was informative and the speakers were easy to listen to. It was packed with information! I attended the marketing workshop – Nigel Argyle is so passionate about helping local authorities!” - Gordon Fotheringham, Rochdale

 

If you would like a pack of information about the issues covered in the workshops, please contact Barry Jordan on 01453 847978.