BaxterStorey has secured a new contract with London Metropolitan University to develop a nutritious and sustainable offering for its 13,500 strong student population.
The one-year partnership, with the option to extend for a further year, started in August and will see BaxterStorey revamp the university’s current offering across its Aldgate and Holloway campuses, with a focus on health and sustainability.
As well as a rebranded retail offer, the team has been tasked with redesigning and delivering a new hospitality service to include the promotion of the university’s large scale commercial event venue.
Alongside transforming its four outlets, BaxterStorey will reopen and redefine the Highbury Canteen as a foodie market style venue driving engagement and creating a community space that puts food and beverage at the heart of the student experience. The space will also serve the University’s staff, contractors, and onsite event attendees.
All outlets will be open from Monday 11 September in time for the start of the new academic year. As part of the contract, BaxterStorey has worked with suppliers to create a carbon neutral wine list, with menus to include Toast ale made from surplus bread, social enterprise Nemi teas, a range of social enterprise confectionary and snacks, and regeneratively grown WildFarmed pasta.
BaxterStorey will oversee the introduction of the industry’s most sustainable EPOS with paperless QR code receipting and digital A-boards, as well as QR codes for feedback surveys, for a more engaging and sustainable approach to marketing.
The caterer has already activated its 17-strong onsite team to begin the transformation process, which will see the whole team trained by local coffee roastery Extract in Bermondsey.
BaxterStorey’s Head of Wellness and Nutrition, Andy Aston, is supporting the creation of a campus wellness programme with Events and Hospitality Services Manager Daniel Caleb, while Head of Nutrition Lizzie Henning is working with this year’s Dietetics BSc students on a placement aimed to enhance the catering offer for students.
Sarah Miller, Managing Director, BaxterStorey said: “We are delighted to be developing a partnership with London Metropolitan University. They have a long-standing culture of enhancing the student experience through sustainable initiatives, people development and a strong community focus – these values are all absolutely in tune with ours.”
Elizabeth McGowan Head of Events, Hospitality & Business Services from London Metropolitan University added: “It’s an exciting time to be announcing this new catering partnership. London Met is undergoing rapid positive transformation across the board – our student-centric investment approach means we have chosen to team up with BaxterStorey to deliver high quality, sustainable meals and services across all our campuses. Beyond that, with these upgraded services, we’ll be continuing to open our doors to host commercial and civic events with pride, knowing that the experiences we create are top tier.”