News

The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) Leadership & Development Forum, which will take place from 1-2nd April 2025 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, has unveiled ‘food at our core’ as the theme for the event.

The Public Sector Catering Awards, which aim to celebrate excellence across the sector, have received a record 242 entries which is a huge jump on the 179 entries received last year.

North Manchester General Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has introduced Hupfer’s variocart trolley to enhance its catering operations.

The UK Government has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD), following a case being confirmed in Germany.

One Retail, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has partnered with Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick to open several retail outlets including a frictionless Market Express store using Just Walk Out technology by Amazon.

Public Sector Catering Alliance, the umbrella organisation for meal providers working in schools, hospitals, care settings, universities, prisons and the military, has outlined five key action points for 2025.

The latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) report from Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ reveals a month-on-month increase in inflation during December, raising fears of renewed price pressures for the UK’s hospitality sector.

Veganuary, the global organisation encouraging people to try vegan in January and beyond, expanded its global presence again this year with new campaigns in Canada, Peru and Malaysia.

Stop Food Waste Day, which was started in 2017 by Compass Group USA, is the largest single day of action in the fight against global food waste.

Global environmental non-Government organisation WRAP has joined forces with the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) to form WRAP EU.

The Food Foundation has published its 2025 Broken Plate report that found healthier foods are more than twice as expensive per calorie than less healthy foods.

Medirest, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has been awarded the catering and cleaning contract with South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, starting from May 2025.

Phil Shelley, who chaired of the Hospital Food Review, has encouraged hospital chefs, leaders and dietitians as well as other healthcare professionals to attend one of the upcoming sustainability and carbon workshops.

Nuffield Health has chosen to retain Sodexo UK and Ireland for an additional five years from 2028. This follows a five-year contract extension awarded in 2023.

Peabodys, which was acquired by Compass One last year, has announced the opening of its 12th coffee shop within NHS hospitals across the UK, now serving the community at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

BonCulina UK has announced the appointment of Mark Smalley, a professional with over a decade of experience in the UK frozen food home delivery market within a £130 million organisation, to spearhead its new consumer division BonCulina Anywhere.

Compass One’s Cuisine Centre has announced the launch of Moreish, a nutritious frozen range that locks in flavour and helps to cut food waste.

Nutrition & Hydration Week will take place on 17-23rd March 2025 with many NHS Trusts and care homes across the UK expected to take part by promoting their good practices and sharing key messages.