David Stanley appointed executive chef at school caterer Hertfordshire Catering

David Stanley has been named executive chef at school caterer Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL).

Stanley had spent 20 years at Aramark, where he rose up the ranks from executive chef at BP UK to senior development chef for Merlin Group.

He was also formerly executive chef at Holroyd Howe and was most recently executive chef at Chartwells Independent.

At HCL, which serves both primary and secondary schools in the region, Stanley will be responsible for balancing nutrition and taste with the financial constraints of menus in the education sector.

He will also be tapping into plant-based trends and seasonal ingredients.

John Want, chief executive of HCL, said: “I’m delighted to bring David on board and utilise his passion and knowledge to drive our food agenda forward. HCL is a school caterer for all, and David will help us deliver a superb package of food innovation to excite our current client base and those we engage with for new business. His deep understanding of modern food trends, sustainability and cost-effective solutions will be crucial as we continue to meet the diverse needs of schools across the UK.”

Stanley added: “I’m thrilled to join HCL and lead the company’s food innovation strategy. There’s a huge opportunity to transform school meals into a more exciting, nutritious and globally inspired dining experience. By focusing on sustainability, seasonality and modern food trends, we can offer fresh, relevant meals while staying within budget and continuing to meet the nutritional needs of children.”