Cucina scores full marks for retention and achieves double-digit growth

School caterer Cucina has once again scored full marks with a 100% retention rate and double-digit year-on-year growth.

That's according to the group's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2017 filed at Companies House.

The Hertfordshire-based business has seen turnover grow 19.3% to £14.9m, due to several new client wins, while profit before tax increased 77.4% to £1.1m, despite rising cost pressures.

Cucina won two education catering contracts totalling £10m in August.

The accounts said that while food inflation continues to affect the catering industry, careful internal cost controls and menu development initiatives have helped the company maintain its margins.

It added that a focus on driving sales has meant that the majority of existing academy contracts now deliver nil cost operations or financial returns to school partners, ensuring sustainability for both Cucina and its clients "at a time of unprecedented budget pressures".

Cucina has 49 contracts in total, and focuses on secondary schools and academies with over 1,200 pupils.

Cucina's only restaurant, the fine-dining Oxford Kitchen in Summertown, Oxford (pictured) appointed Paul Welburn executive chef in October. Welburn was previously head chef of the Michelin-starred Rhodes W1 and the Leconfield.

Cucina scores 100% retention rate and double-digit turnover growth >>

Cucina wins education contracts worth £10m >>

Paul Welburn appointed executive chef of Oxford Kitchen >>

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