Chantelle Nicholson partners with Sodexo as caterer makes sustainability push

Michelin-green-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson has teamed up with Sodexo to share her sustainable cooking expertise with the school meals giant.

Nicholson, whose zero-waste Mayfair restaurant Apricity opened in March, will work as a consultant chef for Sodexo’s school and universities arm. The caterer currently supplies meals to more than 500 UK state schools, and on-campus food and other services at about 100 British and Irish universities.

Sodexo has said that "sustainability is central to the partnership".

Nicholson will offer work placements and training at Apricity to budding young chefs as part of her new role, and will make school visits.

The chef will also work alongside Sodexo’s culinary team "to drive innovation in menu development with a focus on healthy and plant-rich dishes designed to be served to children and young people".

Nicholson said she is "delighted" to take on the role, and plans to help "create some fantastic healthy dishes and provide meaningful work experience to people at my restaurant".

She said: “I am committed to creating a more sustainable future and making sure children and young people make healthy choices to eat well now and in the future is a big part of this.”

Sodexo's Philip Smith added: “Chantelle is one of the UK’s leading restauranteurs, and we know she’ll be an inspiration to all involved.”

Nicholson closed her Covent Garden-based restaurant Tredwells last September, having taken ownership from Marcus Wareing in 2018. She had overseen the launch of Tredwells when it was part of Marcus Wareing Restaurants in 2014 and was appointed chef-patron in 2016.

During the pandemic, Nicholson had launched a Hackney-based pop-up All’s Well, in a bid to create jobs for staff.