Principals by CH&Co has kicked off the school year with £7.5m of openings to bolster their portfolio.
The contracts are set to bolster the firm's foothold in Kent, while advancing into London and Surrey, as the specialist school caterer seeks both individual schools and clustered education groups.
The firm also offers street food pop-ups and an "interactive family service" which allows children to serve themselves with the aid of an adult and develop stronger social skills.
Peter McKenna, sales director for Principals by CH&Co, said: âItâs been an incredible start to the new school year and weâre thrilled to be extending our reach into London and Surrey.
"Principals by CH&Co is in a strong position and this is down to our innovative, creative approach that enables us to build genuine partnerships with the schools we work with and be a positive part of a school community.
"Iâve been into the kitchens of our new schools and the atmosphere is brilliant and the teamsâ dedication to creating exciting food experiences is palpable â" thereâs a real buzz!
âThis is a new, exciting chapter for the business as we enjoy continued growth and move into new areas. We also benefit from great support from the wider CH&Co business in the form of outstanding nutrition and culinary expertise and excellent support in marketing, procurement, finance, training and development, to name just a few!
âOur ethos is to work with the right schools that we can build true partnerships with, and not growth for growth sake. We have great people in our teams who want to make a real difference to the children and school communities we work with, beyond whatâs on the plate.
"Take our new family service concept, for example. In modern society, not every child sits down for family meals at home and important development and life skills are in danger of being lost.
"Weâre in a position to give children experiences in the dining hall that they can take with them throughout their lives, and itâs important that we do this.â