M&S to support Craft Guild’s Food Appreciation Workshops in schools

The workshops, trialled earlier in the year, involve Craft Guild members visiting school kitchens and food technology classrooms to get parents cooking with their children. The emphasis is back to basics, with the chefs talking about ingredients, cooking equipment, nutrition and cost savings, but all the sessions are hands-on and having fun while cooking is the central theme that the Guild wants to promote. Despite an increase in cooking related shows in the mainstream media, many families lack the understanding of what constitutes a healthy, nutritious and cost effective meal. They also miss out on the enjoyment eating together as a family provides, and the simple pleasures and satisfaction of cooking and then eating food. "Marks and Spencer Hospitality is the fourth largest coffee shop group in the UK," said Jason Danciger, head of hospitality at M&S. "We are proud to support the Craft Guild of Chefs in this fantastic initiative for schools. "M&S Hospitality also has one of the largest restaurant groups too, with more than 70 eateries in addition to its 300 coffee shops, which vary from premium and casual dining to champagne bars and hot food takeaway counters. There are also 40 M&S eateries worldwide, which is growing at a fast pace. This offers incredible career opportunities for chefs, bakers, butchers, baristas and foodservice professionals." The next Food Appreciation Day is planned for October 20 at the Simon Balle School in Hertford. Matt Owens from dessert creators Zuidam and Mark Rigby from Premier Foods, who have backed the venture from the beginning, will be running the workshop. The Guild is hoping that more sponsors will be in place to help with ingredients. It is also looking at its business partners to find solutions for offering the workshop experience to schools who don't have great catering facilities. • For more information, visit www.craftguildofchefs.org, follow the Guild on twitter @Craft_Guild or email cgc@proactivecommunications.co.uk. You can also visit the Guild's facebook page or join their LinkedIn group.