Unilever Foodsolutions launches new initiative to drive school meal uptake

Unilever Foodsolutions has launched a new programme providing marketing, culinary and nutritional support to local authorities to help them boost school dinner uptake.

Eatz4U is currently being trialled in Solihull, Blaenau Gwent, Torfean, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff.

As part of the programme Unilever has also devised a range of new recipes that are compliant with the nutrient-based standards in England, which come into force at secondary school this summer (being already in operation at primaries).

Richard Wainwright, catering manager of secondary schools at Solihull Catering Services, which is part of the pilot, said: "The Chefmanship programme is a great part of the initiative, which involved two chef coaches from the Unilever FoodSolutions Culinary Team visiting all ten of our schools to teach the catering staff how to cook the Eatz4U recipes."

For more, see the Unilever Foodsolutions website. For more on school meals, see our dedicated school dinners page.

By Chris Druce