Food Cube concept boosts school meal uptake by 28%
Facilities management specialist BAM FM claims that an innovative catering concept it has developed has boosted school meal uptake by more than a quarter at a Bristol academy.
The Food Cube, developed by BAM FM in partnership with modular commercial kitchen specialist PKL Group, has helped Oasis Academy improve the food service by reducing queues in the dining room and offering a dedicated external catering outlet.
Measuring 2.4m by 3m, the modular facility provides food that complies with the government nutritional standards during morning break and at lunchtime.
Since its installation average school meal intake on site has risen from 244 to 313 pupils a day – an increase of 28%.
About a third of the pupils at the Bristol school now regularly use the Food Cube, which has won recognition with an innovation award from the Local Authority Caterers’ Association (LACA).
BAM FM operations director Neil Porter said: “Pupils do not want to spend their lunch breaks queuing for food.
“With increased pressure due to shortened lunch breaks this innovative solution has relieved pressure in the main dining hall at Oasis Academy, Brightstowe while ensuring students still have access to healthy food options that comply with national standards.
“We were delighted to win the LACA award, which is about innovation and collaboration. It shows that BAM FM is always listening to its clients and thinking broadly about how it can deliver solutions.
“We are about to install a further Food Cube into South Bromsgrove High School, and PKL has had several enquiries about the concept from other perspective clients.”