Wholesaler scoops top school meal award
The MD of Welsh wholesaler Castell Howell Foods has taken home a top industry award in recognition of his commitment to school catering
The LACA Wales Region Awards recognise excellence in the school food sector and Matt Lewis, MD at Castell Howell Foods, took home the coveted LACA Wales Region Chairs Award. The winner of this award is selected by the committee to acknowledge contributions to school food catering in Wales.
Matt has been a keen supporter of the LACA Wales Region for many years and uses every opportunity to promote and support education catering teams across Wales. The team at Castell Howell has a deep understanding of the Welsh Government goals that local authorities are trying to meet, such as local produce on menus, a ‘whole school’ approach and delivery of universal primary free school meals, and supports them with innovative, affordable and workable solutions.
“The school meal service is key to Castell Howell,” he said. “We proudly work with catering teams across the country to help develop menus, support activities and promote a balanced diet for children. Working closely with schools, our drive is to further support local veg growers by getting their produce on menus – which of course, also serves to strengthen the Welsh supply chain.’’
Judith Gregory, National Vice Chair and Director of LACA Ltd said: ‘’Castell Howell is always the first to respond to support events and their network contacts are well established and are not confined to just education catering, they reach far and wide and they utilise those connections to benefit local authority catering teams. They reached out to a supply chain network to support eFSM pupils during the pandemic, and to sports connections to provide enrichment sessions for Welsh Government’s Food and Fun holiday provision.”
She continued: ‘’Matt’s support for over a decade has been fundamental in the development of the school meals sector, we’re hugely thankful to him and his dedicated teams at Castell Howell for all they continue to do for local authorities across the country.’’
Receiving the award, Matt admitted it came as a surprise: ‘’I’m so thrilled to receive this award and quite taken aback. Being recognised is not only an incredible personal achievement, but is testament to the phenomenal teamwork on every level throughout the company, which allows our supply chain collaborations to flourish. I must also congratulate all award winners and finalists, and not forgetting LACA Wales on organising yet another magnificent event, that holds huge importance in championing all that is great about the school meal sector.”
award Castell Howell Foods Matt Lewis schools
