Harrison wins £4m school meals contract

Starting in September, Oxfordshire-based Harrison takes over a contract that was previously run by Initial catering's Eden Foodservice division. Managing director Geoffrey Harrison said: "We won the contract by demonstrating how we will work in partnership with the borough's schools, head teachers and parents to provide better school meals. ""We share Bexley's commitment to service and an uncomplicated approach to improving standards, starting with reducing reliance on convenience foods and increasing fresh products. "I would urge the parents and carers of all children to encourage them to try out our new menus for themselves. I'm sure that the children will notice a real difference in the quality of the food served." He said Harrison would be communicating with parents regularly by sending out information leaflets and menus. The contractor would also be inviting parents to meet them at schools or visit them at the Harrison office in the Borough. Local councillor with responsibility for schools, Simon Windle said: "The reputation of school dinners has suffered recently and media coverage has highlighted the poor quality of some of the food on offer. "We were determined to provide Bexley's children with a good range of healthy meals during their school day." "We know that healthy eating can have a positive effect on behaviour and concentration levels. I hope that parents and carers will try out the new service and see the big difference the new caterers will make. Everyone can rest assured that if their children have school dinners, they will be getting a well balanced, healthy meal, chosen from an entirely new menu." The London Borough of Bexley is Harrison's fifth LEA contract win in the last five years and brings to 380 the number of primary and secondary schools in England where the company now manages the catering service. Harrison Catering is a medium sized, privately owned, and family-based company. Established in 1994 and growing steadily to a current annual turnover of £38m. It has more than 100 clients, manages catering services in 420 locations, and serves 80,000 meals each day.