Chartwells Successfully Retains 25-year Partnership with Middlesex University

Chartwells, the leading provider of catering and support services to schools, colleges and universities in the UK has secured a new seven-year contract with Middlesex University, commencing Autumn 2019.

Following a rigorous and highly competitive tender process, Chartwells came out on top as the strongest competitor, with a transformative and flexible approach to catering across campus. After 25 years in partnership with the university, Chartwells has continually evolved its catering service through development, reinvestment, food innovation and ultimately, great people.

Chartwells’ new contract promises to significantly enhance the already impressive catering experience over the next seven years. This includes evolving the food offers on campus to meet the increasingly diverse needs of students - including the growing requirement for vegan and vegetarian choices – as well as the introduction of new industry-leading payment and pre-ordering systems to reduce queues and improve the overall customer journey and experience.

Richard Taylor, Managing Director, Chartwells said: “We are confident that our new catering offer will provide a positive change to our on-campus catering. One of the University’s core strategic aims is to create a vibrant student experience which promotes wellbeing and builds a sense of belonging and commitment. We are looking to achieve this with the creation of welcoming spaces and an engagement plan focused on collaborating with students - including chef demonstrations and supplier sampling throughout the year. We also recognise the need to remain flexible, to adapt with changing consumer, environmental and sustainable needs. I am looking forward to seeing the impact our new catering vision will have on campus.”

James Kennedy, Middlesex University Interim Vice-Chancellor commenting on the partnership, said: “Middlesex is a university that puts students at the heart of all our decisions and choosing a new in-house caterer was no different. During the very competitive tender process, we were very impressed by Chartwells’ commitment to meeting the diverse needs of our students. 

Many of our students have long commutes to university and it is essential that when they are here, they have a choice of nutritious food that tastes good and meets their individual needs. We are continually seeking to improve the experience of our students and I have no doubt that this new partnership will contribute towards this.”