Vertas Supports Launch of Exhibition at the Food Museum in Stowmarket

Following the official opening of the ‘School Dinners’ exhibition at the Food Museum, in Stowmarket, Vertas is pleased to contribute to the display, helping bring memories and tastes of school food to life.

From Semolina pudding to turkey twizzlers, school catering has evolved substantially in recent years. As times have changed, so have children’s tastes, nutritional awareness and society’s commitment to sustainability.

This April, the Food Museum revealed its School Dinners Exhibition, exploring the evolution of school catering. Vertas is no stranger to educational catering, having served schools for a number of years, and is pleased to have loaned a collection of equipment to the exhibition.

The exhibition takes a closer look at school dinners, exploring how the industry has adapted to shifting priorities and embraced greener, healthier meals.

On April 1st, members of Vertas’ Educational Catering team attended Food Museum for the exhibition opening. Vertas is pleased to have loaned various equipment, including a Grundy bin, scales, uniforms, including trousers and hats, a cylindrical pot with pans and serving tools, and metal jugs, amongst other things.

Sharon Hodgson MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, attended the event, which included a school dinner for attendees.

Since the start of Vertas’ journey into education catering, the company has been at the forefront of the constantly evolving school dinner menu. Vertas currently serves 90 schools across the region with a dedicated team of approximately 220 colleagues. Most recently, adding approx. 230 schools, through its joint venture with Nottinghamshire County Council.

Our catering service for primary schools provides wholesome, balanced meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Similarly, our high-street-inspired dining for secondary schools and colleges highlights the company’s agility. With these services, Vertas ensures that the next chapter in school meals is as delicious as it is responsible.
These efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, with Vertas receiving national recognition, including shortlisting for Innovation and Education awards at the prestigious Cost Sector Catering Awards.

Susan Mahoney, Lead for Education Catering, said:

“It’s a pleasure to contribute to the School Dinners Exhibition. It’s fantastic to actually take a step back and see the school food journey over the years. The exhibit really brings this story to life, giving a voice to the young people who eat the school lunches.

The launch event couldn’t have been more successful. I was pleased to attend with people who have a shared passion for school meals. The presentations, which focused on how school dinners have developed, were excellent, and the school lunch served was great, too! We’re incredibly proud to be a part of this initiative.”

Jenny Cousins, Director at the Food Museum said;

“School dinners are a shared experience that cut across generations, bringing back childhood memories of lunch lines, long tables, lumpy custard, and everything in between.

Our School Dinners exhibition invites visitors to take part in a nostalgic journey, exploring the tastes, smells, and stories of the past. Visitors will hear from dinner ladies that have shaped school meals over the years, explore unique artefacts that bring them back to their school days, and can even tuck into a traditional school dinner as part of their experience.

It also explores the serious side of school food. For some children, school dinners are a matter of choice. For others, they may be their only hot meal of the day. School meals are a flashpoint in an ongoing debate about poverty and the exhibition asks big questions about our values. Whose responsibility is it to feed children? How much help should the government give, and who should get it?”

Fancy a sweet trip down memory lane? Take a look at our classic Chocolate Crunch recipe here.

Find out more about the School Dinners Exhibition at the Food Museum here.

Photos courtesy of the Food Museum. 

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