Quorn on the menu at LACA’s chef competition

The Local Authority Catering Association’s (LACA) Chef of the Year competition launched recently with a new sponsor for 2021 in the form of Quorn Foods. Competitors will be tasked with creating a delicious and imaginative main meal, using at least one Quorn product alongside a 50% fruit-based dessert that should reflect school standards.

“We’ve admired this competition for years and jumped at the chance to become a sponsor,” said Phil Thornborrow, foodservice director for Quorn. “Meat-free is high on the agenda at the moment and we have been trailblazing its development for over 40 years. The education sector in particular is embracing a more flexible approach to meat consumption, driven by younger generations leading the fight against climate change and rising concerns over childhood obesity.”

Stephen Forster, chair of LACA, added: "LACA is delighted that Quorn has chosen to support our School Chef of the Year competition in 2021. The competition has been running for over 20 years and during that time we have evolved it to reflect both school food standards and food trends. This new partnership reflects the current shift to reduce the amount of meat in our diet, which is also emerging as a major feature of school menus.”

The 2021 competition is open to all staff that hold a kitchen-based post and who are involved in the daily preparation of pupil’s meals at the time of entry. Entries may be submitted by any school meal provider, whether contract caterer, local authority, academy or free school. The 2021 national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2021 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy, an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events and a work experience trip.

To register your interest and for more information on the criteria, go to www.laca.co.uk/scoty. The deadline for registrations is 26th February 2021.