Now in its 25th year, the independent caterer will see revenue reach a record £65million for 2024/25 as a result of new business wins. Due to the growth, Dolce Catering has recently appointed a new chief operating officer Ben Woodward.
Commenting on his appointment, Woodward said: “I’m thrilled to step into the role after a rewarding four years with Dolce already. It’s been incredible to be part of the growth we’ve achieved in recent years. I’m looking forward to continuing to help drive our great business forward and ensure we continue to keep pace with our customers' ever-evolving needs.”
Dolce Catering works with over 650 primary and secondary schools across England and Wales, providing 125,000 meals for pupils every day and has a 2,500-strong team, which is an increase of 20% in the last 12 months.
Scott Curtis, one of the family brothers and managing director of Dolce Catering, added: “We’re incredibly proud to have innovated some of the biggest developments in the history of the education catering sector.
“Online pre-order and cashless payment systems are now commonplace, but at the time of conception it was revolutionary. It’s our approach to look at things differently and break new ground, combined with our commitment to providing the best possible service, that has fuelled our steadfast growth in recent years.”
Alongside catering, Dolce also offers a full fit-out and design service, completely ‘transforming’ a school’s dining area, something which other caterers need to outsource. Dolce’s catering is based upon the Italian’s approach to food creation; passionate about fresh, seasonal ingredients and obsessed with taste.
Ian Houghton, head of estates at Castle Phoenix Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust, commented: "Working with Dolce for many years now it has been great to grow our Trust alongside Dolce's own evolution.
“The impact they have had on our schools has been transformative and the quality and customer care we receive has been fantastic. This has in large part been due to their family feel and responsiveness to us as a client but also supported by their constant striving for innovations."