The 2024 Caterers’ Challenge returns with a new format this year to recognise all catering teams’ involvement in bringing the campaign to life. The judges will award each catering team with either a Gold, Silver or Bronze category depending on their level of engagement and achievement with Eat Them to Defeat Them.
Catering teams should bring to life the 2024 campaign theme The ‘Big Chomp’. Three Gold winners will be offered a fully expenses paid trip to the LACA Main Event to collect their award and a trophy for them to keep. Teams awarded Gold will receive a certificate and a £500 cheque. Up to 15 catering teams can be awarded Silver and they will receive a certificate and a £100 cheque.
Dan Parker, chief executive of Veg Power, said: “The success of Eat Them to Defeat Them is strongly linked to the support of the school catering teams who play such a vital role in implementing the campaign within schools. From tasty vegetable displays and dishes, to giving out stickers and encouraging the children with their levels of commitment, enthusiasm and creativity.
“We are excited to run this new look Caterer’s Challenge this year that acknowledges and celebrates the important contributions that the catering teams make. In previous years we have had a single winner, a limited number of runners up and a certificate for any catering team who requested one.
“We are changing that format slightly to encourage more catering teams to participate and so all the very high-quality entries can be celebrated without the need for a single winner.”
Eat Them To Defeat Them will be returning to TV screens on Saturday 17th February and the schools’ programme will begin after half term on Monday 19th February. Catering teams can request a Tilda sample pack via the Caterers’ Challenge website to create a vegetable and rice recipe.
Annette Coggins, head of foodservice at Tilda UK, added: "Tilda Foodservice is thrilled to once again sponsor the Caterers' Challenge as part of Veg Power and ITV's Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign. We believe in the power of creativity and collaboration in promoting healthy eating habits among children.
“This year's new format, recognising all catering teams, aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the culinary world. We can't wait to see the delicious vegetable and Tilda rice recipes that catering teams will create and we look forward to celebrating their achievements and dedication to The Big Chomp theme.”