Sodexo renews catering contract with Abingdon School

Independents by Sodexo has secured a seven-year contract extension with Abingdon School, an independent day and boarding school located near Oxford.

Sodexo has been the school’s catering partner since 2007. The new contract starts in September 2022 and will see the enhancement of the prep school kitchen servery and a new dining facility added to the school’s catering facilities.

The firm provides breakfast, lunch and supper for both the 1,000-student senior school and the 250 pupils at the prep school a few miles away. The Sodexo team also provides hospitality for all school events.

It has rolled out its evidence-based Powering Performance programme for independent schools which earlier this year was enhanced through the Healthy Futures Partnership, a collaboration between Sodexo and the British Nutrition Foundation.

The programme uses the results of research undertaken by the British Nutrition Foundation with seven schools and frames the programme under four pillars: sustain, focus, strength and replenish. The pillars help to frame and communicate healthy eating messages to support young people’s health and wellbeing.

Steve Hawkins, managing director, Sodexo Schools, UK & Ireland, said: “Our Powering Performance programme has been developed to inspire young people to make informed, healthier and more sustainable food and drink choices and is empowering our chefs to support good nutrition across the school day with healthier recipe guidelines, bespoke training and school-based engagement activities.”

Justin Hodges, the school’s director of finance and operations, added: "It is of great importance to us that our students enjoy healthy, sustainable and tasty school meals every day. Over the past 15 years, the Sodexo team has demonstrated a commitment to the continuous improvement and innovation of our catering provision.”