My Ref: DP1866
Hawthorn Catering Team Win National Welsh Title
Tuesday March 5th 2013
Statement from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council:
First class cooks at Hawthorn High have won the prestigious Welsh Secondary School Catering
Team of the Year!
The coveted national title was presented to chief cook Nicola Granelli and her team from Rhondda
Cynon Taf Council’s Catering Services for their exemplary food provision to hundreds of pupils.
Judges acknowledged that other schools should take a leaf out of their book when it comes to
recognising healthy eating and providing a first class menu.
The award aims to give recognition to a catering team which has made an outstanding contribution
to raising the profile of education catering within the school and its community.
The Welsh Secondary School Catering Team Competition sponsored by Castell Howell Foods, was
organised by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA).
At a glittering presentation evening held at the Vale Resort Hotel, the runners up and winners of 11
categories were announced to a packed hall.
Hawthorn High School’s talented team was told that they had given “an impressive submission,
displaying a creative and innovative idea, to promote and raise the profile of educational catering
within the local community. Very reflective to the needs of the customer whilst recognising the
importance of healthy eating evidenced by the results achieved. An excellent example that should
be introduced in other schools.”
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Cllr
Eudine Hanagan said, “Our congratulations to Nicola and her superb team at Hawthorn High for
winning such a prestigious award and special praise to them for the comments they secured on the
healthy balance of the meals they served.
“Nicola’s team spirit is inspiring, motivating her staff in all the tasks that are requested of them and
who are all committed to their work while persevering to make new ideas and tasks work.
“Her staff are of mixed ages who bring different experiences with the warmth of a family unit and
their motto for the kitchen is always politeness, friendliness and kindness.
“Our school pupils are very lucky to be served such delicious, high standard food by cooks across
the County Borough. They are an asset to us and we hope pupils continue to indulge and enjoy
school meals which are of such a very high standard.”
On taking up the roll of catering manager at Hawthorn High in 2008, Nicola Granelli has ensured her
team has gone from strength to strength after close consultation with Headteacher Jason Hicks.
Mr Hicks explained, “The team quickly adapted to a whole school approach implementing the
changes that were needed to be undertaken to continue the quest of attracting more young people
to enjoy a healthy meal in the newly refurbished dining hall which also has its own coffee shop and
where breakfasts and lunch is served.
“The school changed to a Biometric System in March 2012 with many advantages to the pupils and
catering team. Increased service points were installed to improve the flow of children, giving them
more time to enjoy their new healthy meals.
“The system has the advantage of delivering meal choice information, menus and nutritional data to
parents while making them safer places for staff and pupils. Free School Meal entitlement has
increased by 17% since installation.”
Members of the team have completed NVQ qualifications and “Appetite for Life” Development
Programmes, learning skills that are passed on to other members of staff who display such a
passion for their work.
During the past year special menus were also produced to celebrate a whole range of national
events, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Six Nations Rugby along with themed days to
promote the School’s Catering Service and Healthy Eating and National School Meals Week.
The team involves itself in promotional events and even competitions where they present gifts and
awards to the pupils. They also extend their organisational skills to cater for the community where
Christmas Dinners were served to local pensioners.
(ENDS)
For further information contact:
Dean Powell, Media Liaison Officer
Telephone: 01443 424153 or email [email protected]