Catering News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
Juniper Ventures has been appointed as the new catering partner for 26 primary schools across Waltham Forest, following the Waltham Forest Aggregation Tender, which saw schools come together to tender collectively for their future food service.
The partnership marks the start of a new chapter for school meals in these settings, rooted in fresh, seasonal food, genuine engagement with pupils and a strong connection to the local community.
From Spring 2026, pupils will see vibrant new menus designed to balance nutrition with choice and familiarity. Dishes will be shaped not only by Juniper’s Development Chefs, but by the children themselves, through taster sessions, student voice activity and ongoing feedback in schools.
Alongside its food offer, Juniper is committed to investing in the people who deliver it. All colleagues working within the Waltham Forest schools will be paid the London Living Wage. By recognising the value of school kitchen teams in this way, Juniper aims to support stable employment, strengthen local households and ensure pupils are served by teams who feel valued and motivated in their roles. For Juniper, good school food is inseparable from good employment practices, and both contribute to stronger local communities.
Philippa Terry, Chief Operating Officer at Juniper Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with 26 primary schools across Waltham Forest. When schools choose to come together in this way, it reflects a shared ambition to raise standards and create something positive for their communities.
For us, this is about more than delivering meals. It is about creating dining experiences children look forward to, building strong kitchen teams within each school and working alongside leaders to support wellbeing, sustainability and pride in school life.”
Juniper’s approach focuses on strengthening local connections. That includes working with local suppliers where possible, creating employment opportunities within the borough and ensuring sustainability is embedded in day-to-day operations. Interactive food waste monitoring through systems such as DigiTally will help schools understand what pupils are enjoying and where improvements can be made, turning insight into action.
Mobilisation will begin in March, with the new service launching after the Easter break. Go-live week will focus on welcoming pupils to the new menus, celebrating kitchen teams and capturing early feedback from children and staff.
Later in the summer term, a pupil taster event will bring together Development Chefs, school teams and invited stakeholders to showcase how menus are shaped by pupil voice. The event will provide an opportunity to see the food in action, meet the people behind it and understand how sustainability and community partnerships shape the service.
This partnership reflects a collective commitment from the participating schools to invest in a catering offer that supports health, enjoyment and a positive school experience for every child.
Catering News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
