In response to the healthy growth of the business in recent years, Cucina Restaurants reorganised its management structure, with owner Steve Quinn moving to the position of Chief Executive and Stuart Lenton taking over as Managing Director.
Quinn, with over 28 years in the school food industry, has spent the past 15 years of his career developing new business opportunities in schools, colleges and universities in a variety of UK based organisations including Compass, Sodexo, Aramark, BaxterStorey and Innovate.
Explaining the rationale behind the restructure, Quinn said, “Continuous healthy growth has made this the perfect time for us to be restructuring our company in this way. Moving to Chief Executive will enable me to spend a little more time on my other work in the food industry, as well as continuing my involvement with Cucina.
'I have known Stuart Lenton for many years and we share the same values when it comes to school food. We are also excited about the new ideas that he undoubtedly will bring to Cucina.”
Lenton said, “Putting it simply, this is my dream job. I have long been an admirer of Cucina and the lead that it has shown in putting food quality at the very centre of its business model. This unique approach has enabled Cucina to become the well respected and highly regarded school food provider it is today.
'I am really excited about working with the Cucina team to make the most of the challenges and opportunities that present themselves in the future.”
Cucina Restaurants is now in its 10th year of operation, and was the first school catering company to employ trained, top calibre chefs in school kitchens.