Schools FAQs
How It Works
Can I try your school meals before becoming a customer?
Yes, we absolutely insist on it! We know our food speaks for itself, which is why we offer a free sample tasting session so you have an opportunity to try our food first.
We will either attend in person or, during current circumstances, send you some free samples instead. Full details will be discussed over the phone prior to the tasting. During this time we can also discuss any equipment that may be required.
How do I place an order for apetito’s School Meals?
Once you are a customer, you will be provided with a login for our online portal: my apetito.
Available 24/7, my apetito allows you to plan school menus, review nutritional content, check allergens and pore over ingredients at a time that suits you.
When you’re ready, you can then order your meals, with the option to change quantities and meal choices depending on your requirements at that time.
Ordering your meals takes just a few moments and can be done by anyone within your setting.
How does your service work?
You'll be fully trained on how to use our service, from cooking the food to plate presentation, recording temperatures and portion control. We also provide best practice support to help with your menu planning.
Our simple online portal allows you to plan menus, review nutritional content and place your order with apetito. Once you’ve placed your order, we’ll deliver to you on an agreed day. On the day, our friendly team will deliver your meals for free – it’s that simple!
How much does your service cost?
Naturally, the cost of our school meals service will depend on the size of your business. When you book in a tasting with us, we’ll listen to your needs and discuss the best way to partner with you, taking into account any budgets you have so you can get the most out of our service.
If you do decide to partner with us, we’ll then regularly check in to make sure you’re getting the most out of your budget while serving up meals your students will love.
How quickly can I use your school meals service and menus?
We can get you up and running within just two weeks. Before starting with us, we will come to your setting to conduct a food sampling session. This gives you the confidence and reassurance that the food you’re receiving meets the needs of your pupils.
This is typically undertaken with a manager or owner, but we’ll often get the staff and pupils trying the food too!
I don’t have much space within my school – can you still help?
Absolutely, our school meal service requires minimal kitchen space. As part of becoming a new customer you will receive an on-site visit, where we can support and advise on best practice based on the size of your setting. We can also advise and provide equipment should it be required.
Where is your food sourced from?
Our aim is to source our food in the most ethical, sustainable way possible and in 2019 we were awarded The Queens Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, one of only six companies to win the award in the UK.
As proud supporters of the British food and farming industry we only source from the best suppliers who adhere to the highest standards and abide by ethical trading standards.
Allergens & Safety
Can you support with allergens and intolerances?
We cater for many different dietary requirements including dairy, egg and wheat.
We work with every setting to create a school menu tailored to your school's needs. We try to keep meals at each sitting the same or similar for each child so no one feels left. That means there's no need for food envy!
We clearly highlight allergens at the point of ordering, as well as on the meal lid. This makes it as simple and obvious as possible to provide safe, healthy school meals for your pupils.
Can you support with parent concerns?
Absolutely, and we love supporting you with this.
We conduct parent food tasting sessions, working in partnership with you. These sessions enable parents to both try the food and also provides an opportunity for us to answer any questions they may have. They’ll leave the session knowing exactly who supplies school meals for their children, the care we take with our sourcing process and how delicious our meals are.
We also provide literature which can be provided to parents as both a hard copy and in a format suitable for email. These food tasting sessions provide reassurance and inform parents about who apetito are and what we do.
What measures do you take to ensure your food is safe?
Our state-of-the-art, Campden Laboratory Accreditations Laboratory (CLAS) compliant laboratories and strict procedures make apetito food one of the safest school catering options available. Every batch of food we cook is checked to make sure it’s completely free of pathogens before it is released for sale.
Flash freezing our food enables us to make these checks, while also locking in the nutrition, flavour and texture of our school meals. Flash freezing our meals provides each meal with a longer shelf life than chilled food too.
On top of that, we consistently achieve the highest level of accreditation against the BRC’s Global Standard for Food Safety, conducting an audit across all our processes each year.
Cooking & Serving
Do I need a chef to prep and serve your school meals?
Our school meals are flash frozen and ready to put straight into the oven. This means preparation time is significantly reduced, leaving time for staff to focus on what matters – your students. It’s so simple, anyone can help out in the kitchen – so you don’t need to worry about the food, holiday cover or sickness.
Do your meals come as individual portions?
Our meals are contained within trays which typically serve 8-10 pupils per tray. Smaller trays are also available, as well as individual portion meals. Individual portion meals in particular help manage cost and minimise wastage. All meals arrive frozen.
How do you prepare your school meals?
Each meal ingredient is selected by our team to ensure the best quality and taste. Our school meals are then prepared and cooked by our qualified on-site chefs, with direction from our in-house dietitian. Each meal is then frozen within an hour to lock in nutrition, freshness and flavour.
To prepare the meals in your school's kitchen, simply remove the meals you need from the freezer and follow the cooking instructions on the lid. Remove your meals from the oven, check the temperature, and serve!
Will I need additional equipment?
This depends on a number of key factors. During our on-site visit, we can discuss whether any equipment will be required, such as freezers and ovens. If needed, we can support and provide a range of equipment purchase options to suit all budgets.
Delivery
Do you deliver school meals in my area?
We run our own fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles across most of the country, free of charge. When you contact us, we’ll be able to confirm if we cover your area.
Do you deliver daily?
Our flexible, effecient school meals service doesn’t require the need for a daily delivery. As our meals are delivered frozen you get to cook exactly what you want and when you want it.
How are your school meals delivered?
Food is delivered frozen in our own temperature-controlled vehicles. There is no charge for delivery, and one of our friendly delivery drivers will typically deliver your food order once a week. We can also give you a proof of temperature receipt on delivery.