Secondary schools throughout the United Kingdom are facing a decline in meal uptake, driven by the changing preferences of students, long queues, combined with administrative complexity. This case study highlights how a collaborative approach to menu design, combined with smart digital systems, reversed this trend, resulting in a 40% increase in secondary school meal uptake, along with a shift to healthier meal choices.
The challenge the Dolce team faced was at Upper Shirley High School in Southampton, where teachers identified a similar challenge of encouraging students to choose school meals and promoting healthier eating habits, without restricting choices. The school was also experiencing operational pressures, especially with lunchtime congestion and administrative workloads, impacting efficiency and the students overall dining experience.
The Dolce approach was menu collaboration and daily choices with the school piloting a collaborative menu strategy that focuses on choice, sustainability, and inclusivity. The main decision was to offer “ProVeg-certified dishes every day of the week.” This ensured high-quality and appealing vegetarian options which are always available, rather than focusing on occasional alternatives.
This approach introduced plant-based meals as a main choice, rather than a compromise. The popular options were not removed from the menu, but rather, it expanded the menu selection, aligning with student values related to taste, health, and environmental awareness.
The results were immediate with vegetarian dish uptake increasing by 15%, compared to the previous years. The broader menu was refreshed, increasing meal uptakes by 40%. In addition to this, the school reported a shift in student attitudes when it came to food, with students becoming more positive and health-conscious.
In addition to the menu changes, the school adopted a digital meal management platform, designed to streamline operations, while improving student experience, known as “SchoolGrid”. The school advised that there is a reduction in daily admin with automatic reporting, removing manual efforts. Staff have reported that the interface is intuitive, students are adapting quickly to pre-ordering and balance checking, and the tills are faster in check out, easing congestion, especially at the start of busy lunch times.
Aligning menu innovation with operational efficiency, the school showed an increase in meal uptake without sacrificing choice or increasing staff pressures. Thoughtful collaboration between Dolce, school leaders, and digital providers, transformed performance and perception.
