Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club
Exclusive catering service for the education sector, Olive Dining, has joined forces with Partnership Learning – a multi-academy Trust overseeing 18 schools across London and Essex.
The three-year partnership will see Olive Dining create and deliver bespoke menus for five secondary schools, five primary schools and one Special Education Needs (SEN) school – with each menu being tailored specifically to their students.
Olive Dining will also be helping the five primary schools implement a brand-new process that will allow students to make their own decisions and try something new when it comes to their school meals. From September, all students will be able to select their meals at the counter, instead of their parent/guardian ordering in advance.
To help with this transition, a daily “taste table” will be positioned within the queue line and updated to display different foods, so that the students can see what is on offer before they get to the counter.
Founded in 2015, Partnership Learning serves 14,000 pupils from 18 schools across Barking and Dagenham, Hillingdon, Havering, Waltham Forest and Southend. Specialising in establishing new schools and transforming under-performing schools, the Trust supports its schools and their leaders through collaboration, whilst facilitating the deployment of effective strategies to ensure that all its pupils thrive.
Stephanie Spratt, co-founder and CEO of Olive Dining, said: “Over the last 15 years, Olive Dining has established a positive reputation in partnering with schools to enhance student life through the provision of tasty, freshly prepared and wholesome meals – and this latest partnership is no exception.
“We have worked with all 10 schools on their individual needs when it comes to their marketing and menu requirements. Although the schools are part of a Trust, one size does not fit all, and we have ensured that our individually curated menus remain bespoke to each site. We can’t wait to see more pupils thrive due to their school meal choices and are excited to work on a number of projects over the next three years.”
Roger Leighton, CEO of Partnership Learning, added: “The Trust is delighted to be embarking upon a new partnership with Olive Dining after a very thorough tendering process. We particularly look forward to developing with them an individualised approach for each school – which fits the philosophy of our Trust in valuing each school’s unique identity.”
This latest partnership comes after Olive Dining prevented over 1,000 nutritious school meals per month from going to waste through its collaboration with local sharing app, Olio. Earlier this year, the Surrey based business also launched a hamper to support students during Ramadan, consisting of ingredients to prepare a cooked meal after school, complete with a recipe card and pre-recorded video of Olive Dining chefs guiding students through the cooking process.
Having recently been shortlisted for ‘Mid-Market Business of the Year’ at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards and ‘Education Caterer of the Year’ at the Foodservice Cateys 2025, Olive Dining is continuing its mission to support a healthier planet for future generations, through sourcing responsibly, reducing carbon emissions and educating young people on sustainable food practices.
For more information, click here
Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club
