Catering provider Cordia introduces Glasgow’s first in-school cafe

Named the Scholars' Cafe following a pupil competition at the west end-based secondary, the latest edition to Cordia's school catering facilities was officially opened by the organisation's chair, councillor Jim Mackechnie. The cafe will feature a full range of beverages including coffees, teas, cappuccinos, lattes and mochaccinos. The concept, which is adjacent to the school's main Fuel Zone area, will also serve Cordia-produced hot and cold foods which meet Scottish Government legislation on nutrition. Scholar's Cafe was developed by Cordia, Glasgow City Council's school catering provider, to offer pupils greater choice in the drinks and snacks they can buy within the grounds of Knightswood Secondary. It is hoped the introduction of the city's first in-school cafe will help offer healthier food alternatives to high street snack vans, fast food outlets and chip shops. Julia McCreadie, Cordia's operations manager, said: "Like the Holyrood Hut before it, the Scholars' Cafe is yet another example of the work and consultation carried out by Cordia to ensure the city's pupils are given a greater degree of choice in their schools. "Scholars' Cafe is one of the many new initiatives Cordia has introduced in recent years to make Fuel Zone school catering more appealing to Glasgow's pupils while ensuring the food being sold is both nutritious and popular." Pupils at Knightswood Secondary, one of the biggest schools in the city, were also involved in the design of the cafe, which was originally used as a queuing area for the Fuel Zone. All of Glasgow's 30 secondary schools have now introduced one or more new catering concepts following consultation with pupils. These include mobile counters, snack and drink "vendbanks" and fixed coffee bars.