Foodservice Cateys 2015: Healthcare Caterer of the Year

Sponsored by Zenith Hygiene Group

SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING

The quality of Senior Sunrise Living's people- centred approach is key to its success. Its mission to champion quality of life for seniors ensures its services are driven by the needs of each individual resident, aiming to deeply enrich the experience of people in need of care.

One example of this is a new PRPD (per resident per day) monitoring system, which allows the company to manage overspends, highlighting any over-reaching of more than 50p.

Another recent Sunrise innovation has been the introduction of an online menu planning system, based on the most-loved recipes among residents. Previously, chefs could create menus as they liked, with no external controls, but now recipes can be centrally uploaded along with all their nutritional information and allergen content, according to the new legislation introduced at the end of last year.

Recipes are also scalable, allowing them to be created to suit the number of residents at each care home, while all supplier price lists also appear alongside updated shopping lists to suit recipes and quantities needed. Not only does this save the head chefs time and effort, it also ensures that each resident receives the necessary amount of calories and nutrients.

Vegetarians have also received an improved offer, as Sunrise has partnered with organisations such as Vegetarian for Life to make sure those following this diet plan receive the nutrition and calories they need to keep healthy.

Commercially, Sunrise has also made great strides. A new tender programme has helped to drive down costs across all categories, such as fresh produce and butchery, alongside extra monitoring on portion sizes, allowing savings to be passed on to improve quality elsewhere.

Sensitivity towards residents' differing needs is also a factor in Sunrise's success. This also showcases the company's flexibility and innovation - such as its considered process in designing a new range of dementia-suitable china alongside Churchill china. Five attempts eventually led to a new set design, with innovations such as raised edges and contrasting coloured rims. All 27 Sunrise sites have already been assigned sets, while the company's Gracewell homes are to receive them in January.

Sunrise has also set up a new dining team, employing a nutritionist and registered nurse, to step up the quality of training and improve nutrition among residents. Giles Conroy, runner up in the NACC Care Cook of the year, who has a Michelin-starred background, has also been helping sites with concerns, carrying out chef skills training and internal audits.

Overall, Sunrise was commended for its high standards, impeccable training routines and sustainable processes, and is continually implementing new and innovative plans, marking it out as a deserving and highly qualified winner of the 2015 award.

What the judges said

"A personalised, passionate, outstanding award entry. Fabulous standards of training and team engagement make Sunrise a deserving winner."

Stephanie Hamilton, ISS Facility Services UK

"A good approach to sustainability, and showed innovation in developing contacts and communication with external associations. Sunrise demonstrated a clear passion for the business and has made good decisions that will support future growth and sustainability."

Graham Eveleigh, WSH

"The quality of the entry was first class, clearly demonstrating the values and achievements of this dynamic business."

Simon Dobson, foodservice professional

"Having worked for over ten years in the care home sector, I was impressed at Sunrise's innovation, which has been focused on the residents and improving their well-being."

Robin Comerford, Elior

Shortlisted

• Caterplus

• Sunrise Senior Living

Past winners

• 2014 ISS Healthcare

• 2013 Elior UK