Cucina senior managers go back to the floor - as dinner ladies

The company dispatched its senior management team to a Cambridgeshire school as part of its initiative to reward the best Cucina Catering Team of the Year and give senior managers the chance to go back to the floor and get a renewed insight into "life at the serving hatch". The Cucina catering team at Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton near Peterborough won the Best Cucina Team of the Year accolade – after impressing judges with their high standards, skills and 'can do' attitude. And each member was rewarded for their efforts with vouchers and a spa day where they received a series of "luxurious treatments". A stretched limousine complete with champagne was on hand to whisk the winning team away for the unconventional day off work – leaving Cucina's senior management team left behind to cater for the 1,500 pupils at the College. Steve Quinn, managing director of Cucina, said: "This initiative is important to both our high standards and as a reward for achieving them. It is also a great chance for us to refresh our thinking! "As a result we have been able to receive first hand reactions to our new menus for next term, and also to make small changes to improve the fantastic work that goes on at all of the Cucina catered restaurants around the country. Most of the senior management team began their working life in a kitchen similar to the one at Arthur Mellows. Sweeping floors and cleaning requires the same level of care as preparing fantastic food in the kitchens. I know this, as I did both again today! Thanks to everyone, colleagues, college staff and pupils for making the day such a success and congratulations to the team at Arthur Mellows." Cucina's approach also includes appointing a head chef to oversee service and offering an educational food service that links the classroom to the kitchen.