Lodestone House renews seven-year partnership with St Columba’s College

Independent school caterer Lodestone House has extended its partnership with St Columba’s College in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in a new seven-year contract.

As part of the renewed contract, the caterer, which was formally known as Chartwells Independent before it rebranded last year, will work closely with the college on a comprehensive kitchen redesign to help with the college’s growing number of students.

It will also introduce a mobile catering van offering flexible food service during breaks, lunchtime and school events.

The partnership with the Compass Group-owned caterer first began in 2018 and has seen it provide catering for the school’s 820 pupils aged four-18, including supporting its transition from a boys’ school to a fully co-educational community.

Noelle Jones, managing director at Lodestone House, which works with more than 100 independent schools, said: “This is a collaborative relationship built on trust, shared values and a commitment to excellence.

“Our garden-to-kitchen-to-classroom mission aligns perfectly with St Columba’s College’s unrelenting focus on quality. We are proud to enrich daily school life with nourishing food and to empower pupils with knowledge about food and nutrition.”

Karl Guest, headmaster at St Columba’s College, added: “Our partnership with Lodestone House has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years. Its understanding of our ethos, commitment to quality and willingness to innovate have been instrumental in supporting our growth and our transition to co-education.

“Equally, we want to acknowledge the incredible team of kitchen staff who work tirelessly every day to deliver exceptional meals and service. Their dedication, creativity, and professionalism ensure that our pupils, parents and visitors enjoy a consistently high-quality experience. The kitchen redesign and mobile catering van are exciting next steps that will further empower this talented team and enhance the overall experience for our community.”