ELAN Catering celebrated in SchoolGrid case study
It has been just over a year since ELAN Catering officially launched, turning a long-held ambition into reality. Born from discussions between ELAN's Advisory Group of headteachers and central team leaders, our vision was simple but ambitious: bring school meals in-house and provide children with high-quality, home-cooked food made using locally sourced ingredients.
Twelve months on, that vision is making a real difference across the trust's schools, and the journey has now been recognised by SchoolGrid, which has featured ELAN in a recent case study exploring the trust's first year using its catering management system. The case study highlights how ELAN has developed a catering service that prioritises food quality, efficiency and the safety of every child, particularly in relation to allergen management and compliance with the requirements introduced through Benedict's Law.
The feature showcases how ELAN Catering has successfully combined the values of an in-house service with modern technology, giving families greater visibility of menus and helping catering teams manage dietary requirements with confidence. It also demonstrates our trust's commitment to continually improving the dining experience for pupils while maintaining the highest standards of care and safety.
For us, the recognition is a testament to the hard work of all of our catering staff, and the leaders who made the brave decision to build a service from the ground up, under the watchful eye of Alex Crawley, ELAN Catering Operation Manager. What began as a shared aspiration to provide fresh, nutritious meals for children has evolved into a thriving in-house catering operation that reflects the trust's values and commitment to its communities.
As ELAN Catering enters its second year, the SchoolGrid case study provides an opportunity to celebrate how far the service has come and the positive impact it continues to have on children and families across the trust. You can read the case study in full by following the link below.
