School Catering in Liverpool
School Catering in Liverpool
At AiP, we are deeply committed to preparing school meals that are fresh, nutritious, and promote the well-being of our children in Liverpool.
Nutrition and Safety Standards Assured
Our on-site and off-site school catering in Liverpool delivers high-quality meals that go well beyond Government School Food Standards to achieve wholesome meals that promote well-being. We work in collaboration with leading nutritionists and top chefs in the country, to make food not only nutritious but also fun and exciting. From primary, secondary and the 6th Form, our meals appeal to children of all ages.
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. Local sourcing, seasonal produce, ethical supply chains and food-waste reduction make our food system low-impact and earth-friendly. We’re aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025 and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045. Our short and long-term targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative(SBTi). From incorporating wonky veggies, free-range eggs, Red Tractor-certified meat and MSC-certified fish in our school meals, we’ve built partnerships based on shared environmental and social values.
Sustainability initiatives
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. Local sourcing, seasonal produce, ethical supply chains and food-waste reduction make our food system low-impact and earth-friendly. We’re aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025 and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045. Our short and long-term targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative(SBTi). From incorporating wonky veggies, free-range eggs, Red Tractor-certified meat and MSC-certified fish in our school meals, we’ve built partnerships based on shared environmental and social values.
Allergen management
We prioritize allergen management, taking a stringent approach to ensure that all students can safely enjoy their food. Special dietary menus with allergen-free options are available for pre-ordering on the School Food United platform. All allergen-free and special diet meals are prepared, stored, and labeled separately. Additionally, we also use separate utensils when serving these meals.
Our customisable menus accommodate various medical and alternative dietary needs, offering vegetarian/vegan options and participating in Meat-free Mondays in Liverpool schools. Our school catering services are tailored to each school’s unique requirements, ensuring nutritious and inclusive meals are served safely to all students.
Food safety and nutritional standards
We take great pride in our rigorous safety standards and protocols. Our school catering in Liverpool by AiP is accredited with ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, ensuring accountability and credibility. Additionally, our safety regulations and processes are assured by Salford Council, our Primary Authority.
Going beyond Government School Food Standards and in full compliance with the School Food Plan, we prioritise well-balanced child nutrition in schools. Our chefs undergo training by the British Nutrition Foundation, a public-facing charity rooted in science, the BNF assists our partners in promoting balanced diets by offering reliable nutrition information.
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 Liverpool
AiP believes in supporting a healthy future generation. Through our brands with Food Smart, Kitcheneers and The Forum, our food development team creates vibrant menus adapted to each age group.
We’ve introduced healthy eating awareness to schools with chef-led workshops and sugar swap classes, fostering a positive food culture where every child embraces healthier choices in Liverpool schools.
We are committed to providing nutritious and sustainable school meals made fresh using sustainable food sourcing, we keep our food miles short and menus seasonal. Our school catering in Liverpool always sets high standards for food quality and safety.
Our digital platform, School Food United, allows easy and efficient pre-ordering for safer meals for all children. It facilitates two-way feedback and better communication. The platform provides detailed information to improve allergen tracing and decision-making, while also reducing the stigma associated with free school meals, ensuring that every child can enjoy nutritious lunches with their peers.
What food safety standards are followed by AiP?
- We have the following ISO accreditation : ISO 14001: 2015, ISO 9901: 2015, ISO 45001: 2018.
- We comply with all regulations, and we have a legal partnership with our Primary Authority (Salford Council) which assures all of our food safety standards/processes
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.