Foodservice Cateys 2021: Healthcare Caterer of the Year: Signature Dining

Launched in 2016, Signature Dining has won an excellent reputation in the care and extra-care sectors for its standard of service. It delivers more than 3,500 meals a day, which equates to 1.3 million meals served a year.

Since 2020, the company has seen a 24% increase in its head count, maintained an enviable staff retention rate and added 25 new contracts to its portfolio. Profits for 2020 increased by 22% on the previous year, and annual turnover is in excess of £6m.

During the repeated Covid restrictions and lockdowns, the Signature Dining staff rose to the challenge of becoming key workers, making changes to working practices, and keeping themselves and their residents safe. Meanwhile, the management team worked continuously to ensure the security of the business’s supply chain, minimising the disruption caused by the pandemic and Brexit.

All the company’s chefs and managers have been trained in the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework. This understanding of specialist dysphagia diets has helped the team to deliver an inclusive service for all residents, promoting dining with dignity for all. Pictorial menus have been developed, with simplified choices to support residents with dementia, and the teams work with residents, staff and families to offer favourite foods, presented in a pleasing way, that are easy to eat.

Residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are given visual reminders to drink throughout the day, and hydration stations have been installed throughout Signature’s sites. The company has also become an ambassador for Nutrition and Hydration Week.

Signature Dining has a delivery style that is entirely people-centred. It understands that no two care homes operate in the same way. It has also supported staff using Flow online hospitality training, allowing teams to keep up to date with ever changing legislation, and to pursue their own self development.

What the judges said

“Despite the impact of Covid on the catering industry, Signature Dining’s financial performance last year was impressive, with revenue and profit growth, and six new contracts. The company also adapted well to the changing landscape, ensuring service levels were maintained and bringing innovation to its contracts.”

Daniel Dickson

“In this very difficult past year, the company has done well to not only maintain business but increase it as well. It has risen to the challenges of IDDSI, and I like its objective to treat dementia patients as VIPs. In the present-day environment of catchphrases, ‘It’s OK not to be OK’ is good.”

Vic Laws

“Signature Dining stood out this year as it was responsive through the pandemic to customer needs. It trains chefs in IDDSI – a huge risk area and a key need – and ensured it promoted Nutrition and Hydration Week. It also helped address resident isolation, with wellbeing additions to its service. Great that all team members are dementia friends too – well done!”

Sophie Murray

The shortlist

• Caterplus
• Signature Dining

Past winners

2019 Sunrise Senior Living 2018 St Monica Trust 2017 Gracewell Healthcare 2016 St Andrew’s Healthcare 2015 Sunrise Senior Living 2014 ISS Healthcare 2013 Elior UK