The secret behind Dolce’s rapid rise:

What makes this year’s ‘Contract Caterer of the Year’ different?

Our friends over at The Educator magazine recently ran an article on our rapid rise over the past year – a year which has seen us scoop the coveted Contract Caterer of the Year title at the 2025 Public Sector Catering Awards.

Winning the award was no small feat. The category spans the entire public sector catering landscape, not just education. So, for us – a company focused entirely on schools – to win against such broad competition cemented our position as one of the most influential players in UK catering today.

It’s an article we’re pretty proud of, so we’re sharing it here too. Have a read of how our family-run business has quietly been reshaping the education catering sector, combining innovation, people-first values, and a genuine understanding of schools to deliver extraordinary results.

The Educator article:

Family values at heart

At the core of Dolce’s success is its family ownership and the values that flow from it. Founded by Dan Curtis, the company is led by Managing Director Scott Curtis – Dan’s son – alongside his brother Adam Curtis, also a Director. Their leadership is hands-on, personable and rooted in family values that shape everything from client relationships to staff development.

Investing in their people

Dolce’s growth story isn’t just about contracts and numbers; it’s about people. The company has a reputation for spotting talent early and offering opportunities for progression. Take Charlotte Walkden, who joined Dolce in an admin role before rising through the ranks and becoming HR Director by the age of 30. Similarly, Claire Oldfield began as a school cook and, within a decade, progressed to Operations Director, helping shape strategy across the business.

Managing Director Scott Curtis, says: “From the beginning we wanted Dolce to be a place where people could build a career, not just a job. When you give people opportunities and back their ambition, they grow – and the company grows with them. We nurture ambition, build loyalty and the pupils benefit from passionate teams who understand the sector inside-out.”

Revolutionising school dining

Another defining feature of Dolce is its commitment to transforming the pupil dining experience. It was Dolce that introduced roast dinner day to school menus, which has become a staple nationwide. Earlier this year Dolce claimed top spot on ProVeg UK’s ‘School Contract Caterer Ranking’, which scores England’s top 25 school caterers on how planet-friendly their menus are.

Alongside catering, Dolce also offers a fit-out service and, unlike many caterers, Dolce doesn’t rely on outsourcing dining refurbishments, as it has its own in-house design team.

Earlier this year, the company unveiled a landmark redesign project at Hawarden High School in Wales. The school’s headteacher described it as having ‘revolutionised the catering experience’. Dolce’s flagship offering at Hawarden’s newly designed Food Court offers students a diverse culinary experience across four ‘zones’: Street Kitchen, Casa Brasilia, Italian Kitchen and the Toast Office. Each zone features its own custom menu, offering global flavours, on-trend dishes and meals tailored to a wide range of tastes.

Dolce covered the cost of the transformation upfront, removing financial barriers for the school, with the confidence that increased meal uptake would generate long-term returns.

This kind of innovation – treating dining as a core part of school culture rather than an afterthought – has delivered results; a 98% uptake on Free School Meals and 76% uptake on paid school meals, both far above national averages.

Market-leading technology

Technology has been another area where Dolce has set the pace – inventing online pre-order and cashless solutions in schools almost 25 years ago. Since then, its bespoke digital systems remove time-consuming admin for both schools and kitchens, while also involving families directly in their child’s meal choices and nutritional development. Parents can access recipes, plan meals together, and even take part in cookery classes, ensuring the benefits extend beyond the dining hall into the home.

Crucially, this approach puts pupils front and centre. Dolce’s chef development team continuously adapt menus to suit the preferences of young people, balancing nutrition with excitement so that school food is something children look forward to rather than tolerate.

Rapid growth – built on partnerships

The past year has been one of the most significant in Dolce’s history. Following a highly successful tendering period, the company has announced that it will begin working with 102 new schools from the start of the new academic year. This expansion brings Dolce’s daily meal provision to more than 130,000 pupils nationwide – meaning the family-run business now caters for one in every 20 schools across England, with continued strong growth in Wales.

But growth on this scale doesn’t happen by chance. Managing Director Scott Curtis explains: “We’ve always believed that success comes from genuinely understanding schools and adapting to their culture, rather than imposing a rigid model. By adopting the principles and ethos of each school or Trust, we become part of their community – and that’s why our partnerships last.”

This collaborative approach has built long-term relationships rooted in trust, flexibility and shared values, and is at the heart of Dolce’s continued expansion.

Looking ahead

As Dolce looks to the future, its guiding principles remain the same as when Dan Curtis first launched the business: put pupils first, support schools, and invest in people. It is a formula that has delivered remarkable growth, industry recognition, and – most importantly – a transformed catering experience for thousands of young people across the UK.

Being named Contract Caterer of the Year is a fitting milestone, but for Dolce, it is only the beginning of the next chapter. With more schools signing up, innovative projects rolling out, and a leadership team committed to family values and long-term impact, the company is set to keep raising the bar for education catering.

Here’s to another exciting year ahead of us!
The Dolce team

So how are we keeping things fresh for the new school year? Click here to find out.