School Catering in Mitcham
At AiP, we believe that every child deserves to feel nourished and cared for, which is why we’re dedicated to providing fresh, flavourful and wholesome school meals that support the well-being of students throughout Mitcham.
School Catering in Mitcham
At AiP, we believe that every child deserves to feel nourished and cared for, which is why we’re dedicated to providing fresh, flavourful and wholesome school meals that support the well-being of students throughout Mitcham.
Nutrition and Safety Standards Assured
At AiP, our school catering isn’t just about meeting standards—it’s about exceeding them because your child’s health and happiness matter to us. We collaborate with leading nutritionists and chefs who share our passion for making nutritious food that kids genuinely enjoy. Our menus are thoughtfully crafted to cater to children of all ages, from the playful tastes of primary school students to the more adventurous appetites of those in the 6th Form.
Food to make students smile
Founded over 20 years ago and operating in over 400 educational institutions, we’re the experts in school catering. Our local-first approach delivers innovative menus full of tried and tested recipes that support pupil happiness and wellbeing.
Food Smart
Built for primary school pupils, Food Smart is about having fun with food, investing in dining spaces, and offering engaging menus.
Kitcheneers
Retail-focused, our secondary school offering is a fresh approach to health and wellbeing with our health by stealth programme.
The Forum
Food Smart
Built for primary school pupils, Food Smart is about having fun with food, investing in dining spaces, and offering engaging menus.
The Kitcheneers
The Forum
Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. We’re committed to local sourcing, using seasonal produce, and supporting ethical supply chains to create meals that are as kind to the planet as they are to our students. Our goal to be carbon neutral by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045 reflects our deep responsibility toward the environment. By including wonky veggies, free-range eggs, and Red Tractor-certified meat in our meals, we ensure that each bite supports a healthier future for all.
Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. We’re committed to local sourcing, using seasonal produce, and supporting ethical supply chains to create meals that are as kind to the planet as they are to our students. Our goal to be carbon neutral by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045 reflects our deep responsibility toward the environment. By including wonky veggies, free-range eggs, and Red Tractor-certified meat in our meals, we ensure that each bite supports a healthier future for all.
Allergen Management
At AiP, we take allergy concerns seriously, implementing rigorous allergen management practices to ensure that every pupil can safely enjoy their meals. Our commitment to pupil safety and well-being is at the core of our school catering services. We are proud to hold ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, which demonstrate our dedication to upholding the highest standards of excellence. Our School Food United platform further supports this commitment by allowing parents to pre-order special dietary options, including allergen-free meals, for added peace of mind. These meals are prepared with the utmost care, stored separately, and served with dedicated utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
Enhancing Food Safety and Nutritional Standards
Your child’s safety and well-being are our top priorities. Our school catering services the highest safety certifications—ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018—which reflect our commitment to excellence.
We’re passionate about going beyond the basics, not just complying with but exceeding Government School Food Standards. Through training with the British Nutrition Foundation, our chefs gain the expertise needed to prepare meals that are not only balanced and nutritious but are also delicious and appealing to children.
Awards and accreditations
We’re proud to hold many awards and accreditations that speak to our high standards for safety and sustainability
Why work with Us?
Producing delicious freshly cooked meals
Providing a fun environment for the pupils
Delivering a packed schedule of theme events
Employing happy friendly smiling staff
Offering a range of special offers
Introducing gardening and cookery clubs
Facilitating competitions, prizes and rewards
Inviting parents in for lunch
Working in partnership with the school
A friendly and open management style
Nutritionally Balanced Student Meals for Schools in Mitcham
At AiP, we see every meal as an opportunity to support the growth and health of our future generation. Through our brands like Food Smart, Kitcheneers, and The Forum, we create vibrant, engaging menus that make healthy lunches something to look forward to every day. We believe in the power of education and hands-on experiences, which is why we offer chef-led workshops and sugar swap classes in schools. These sessions are designed to inspire children to make healthier choices, helping them develop a positive relationship with food that will last a lifetime.
Our commitment to sustainability means that every meal is crafted with care, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to ensure the highest quality. By keeping our food miles low and our standards high, we’re proud to set the bar for school catering in Mitcham. At AiP, we’re here to ensure that every child feels included, cared for, and excited to share a delicious meal with their friends.
What food safety standards are followed by AiP?
- We have the following ISO accreditation : ISO 14001: 2015, ISO 9901: 2015, ISO 45001: 2018.
How does AiP address allergen management?
- Any child with a dietary requirement complete our special diets form. The kitchen team and the school agree a plan to identify these children as they come into the dining hall at service.
- The form is then given to the kitchen and our nutrition team. Together, they create the information needed for safe meals. In the instance of allergy or intolerances, they will create a menu with at least 2 daily options (in most instances) from which the parent/carer and pupil can choose their meals.
- Once the parent has chosen the meals, the kitchen prepares the chosen items and holds them separately, labelled with the pupil’s name and allergen. This is then served to the pupil as they come into the dining hall with separate utensils and plates.
Does AiP accommodate special dietary needs for primary school students?
Does AiP accommodate special dietary needs for secondary school students?
What Certifications do you hold to certify menu quality and sourcing?
- Food For Life Bronze
- MSC licence
- All meat used is British Red Tractor Certified
Key considerations to take onboard when selecting a caterer for schools?
- What is your number one requirement from a school meal provider?
- Only supplies Education Catering. All of our insight, research, and development is focussed on providing freshly prepared, healthy, and tasty meals to schools, using the School Food Plan and Public Health information as our starting point.
- Can you meet the needs of our diverse school population?
- At AiP, we know that one menu doesn’t fit all schools. We offer a selector style menu so that you can tailor the menu to your needs.
- Queues are a big problem at our school, we need to minimise wait times and get children eating within our timetable
- At AiP, we have come up with several strategies to help decrease waiting times such as sign posting along the queue so that students know what is on offer before they arrive, pre-ordering so that meals are ready when they arrive, direct marketing to parents and students so they’re aware of what’s on offer before they arrive, and opening multiple servery points to split traffic. In addition, our primary school pre payment solution, School Food United, allows parents to pre order via the app to help improve speed.
Do you cater for different types of dietary preferences?
- Yes, we offer at least 2 vegetarian options each day.
- We strive to make our vegetarian options vegan friendly as well. We do offer at least one vegan option each day.
- We participate in Meat Free Mondays.
- All of our dessert options are vegetarian. Some of them are also vegan friendly.
- We do not use pork gelatine in any of our desserts.
- We can offer Halal meat if requested by the school.