Sector support
Catering in
education
From schools to universities, this sector means catering for a multi-cultural range of consumers with a wide range of dietary requirements, who are keen to immerse themselves in international cuisine and adventurous ways of eating.
We understand the importance of offering nutritionally balanced options to this customer base. Our development chefs are constantly working to bring new flavours and inspirational recipe ideas to you – all full of colour, texture and of course flavour with the help of the finest stock and sauce bases on the market.
We’re so proud of our gluten free range, many of our stocks, gravies and sauce bases are suited for vegans, vegetarians and meet 2024 salt targets set by Public Health England. We also have a selection of products that contain no declarable allergens^.
^Do not contain declarable allergens under the EU regulation 1169/2011
(Annex 11)
100% gluten free range with many products containing NDA^
No MSG or palm oil added
Made in the UK in our BRC AA factory
100% recyclable packaging
Part of the Food For Life – Soil Association
^Does not contain declarable allergens under the EU regulation 1169/2011 (Annex 11)
Product demonstrations at your fingertips
Recipe inspiration and menu planning
Allergen information and support
Cost efficient with superior yields
9-18 month shelf life
How we can help
you achieve your
bronze Food For Life
- Many of our products comply with 2024 salt targets set by Public Health England
- None of our products contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients
- Our stocks count towards your freshly prepared percentage
- Our Crème Anglaise can be made with fresh milk, also counting towards your freshly made percentage
- Our factory has been BRC AA rated for six consecutive years
- Our team of chefs can recommend seasonal usages for our product range, helping you develop your menu throughout the year
For more information download our free, interactive sector guide:
Products recommended for you...
FIND OUT MORE >Premium Instant Gravy
Introducing our new Premium Instant Gravy! Created using the finest ingredients, this gravy mix creates a rich, premium gravy whilst saving you valuable time. Perfect for the busy chef. Simple to use, just add boilng water - ready in 30 seconds.
FIND OUT MORE >Classic Béchamel Sauce Mix
With so much to think about in a busy school kitchen, chefs can often find themselves crying out for some basic essentials to ease the pressure, but without compromising on quality. Our gluten free Béchamel Sauce offers exceptional taste, value, quality and convenience.
REQUEST YOURS TODAY >Education Innovation Box
Menu planning? Let us inspire you with our innovation box designed for caterers in the education industry, packed with easy-to-use product samples and cost effective recipe cards.
Think Seasonal,
think British
Recipe Book
Our “Think Seasonal, think British” recipe book combines inspirational menu ideas (all using locally sourced British ingredients), a handy seasonality chart, and top tips from our team of chefs.
“We have such good support from Essential Cuisine.
We’ve been using Essential Cuisine since 2012. If we are ever worried about any of their products, we just make a phone call and they talk us through exactly what is in the product.”
Sue Brady, Sue Brady Catering - School Caterer Provider, Wiltshire
Latest sector news...
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6th April 2021Proudly partnered with Love British Food, we are passionate about encouraging chefs and consumers to source local, seasonal ingredients due to the retained freshness and nutritional benefits. We have selected a number of recipes to help you utilise in-season ingredients this April, proving just how versatile, tasty and cost effective local produce can be.READ MORE >Supporting LACA's Easter 'Eggstravaganza'
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10th March 2021LACA work to ensure that the investment in school meals is matched by the highest standards of professionalism in education catering. The organisations new initiative, “Marching Back to School”, has been created to encourage conversations between caterers, school representatives, on site staff and parents to facilitate the return of hot lunches as soon as everyone feels it safe to do so.READ MORE >Salt Awareness Week, How Essential Cuisine Can Support Your Working Kitchen
8th March 2021Salt Awareness Week takes place 8-14 March 2021 and this year the theme is ‘More Flavour, Less Salt’. It may seem the only way to add flavour to meals is with a big pinch of salt, but there are many other ways to ensure your food packs a flavour punch! This Salt Awareness Week, the campaign is working to promote simple tips to help you use less salt...READ MORE >Helping You Minimise Food Waste - Food Waste Action Week 2021
1st March 2021With cost remaining at the forefront of many minds for the foreseeable future, it’s important to think outside of the box when it comes to ingredients nearing their sell by dates. We’ve listed some of our go-to sweet and savoury options below. As always, we’d love to hear about some of the weird and wonderful ways you use any leftover ingredients. Tweet us @essentialcuisin or share your creations to our Instagram @chef.essentialREAD MORE >Essential Cuisine launch a NEW range of innovation boxes to inspire menus
22nd February 2021After the launch of Essential Cuisine’s innovation boxes in 2020, the foodservice brand have helped to support and inspire hundreds of chefs across a multitude of business sectors during a particularly challenging time.READ MORE >All Hail The Cauliflower...
21st February 2021...our five favourite dishes using one of this months in-season ingredients. With health at the forefront of consumers’ minds due to the pandemic, ingredients like cauliflower are finally getting...READ MORE >
