David Stanley has been acquired executive chef at Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL), a school caterer.
Stanley spent 20 years at Aramark, where he progressed from executive chef at BP UK to senior development chef for the Merlin Group.
He also previously served as executive chef at Holroyd Howe and most recently held the role of executive chef at Chartwells Independent.
At HCL, which provides catering services to both primary and secondary schools in the region, Stanley will be responsible for balancing nutrition and taste while adhering to the financial constraints of menus within the education sector.
He will also focus on incorporating plant-based trends and seasonal ingredients into the menus.
John Want, chief executive of HCL, said: “I’m delighted to bring David on board and utilise his passion and knowledge to drive our food agenda forward. HCL is a school caterer for all, and David will help us deliver a superb package of food innovation to excite our current client base and those we engage with for new business. His deep understanding of modern food trends, sustainability and cost-effective solutions will be crucial as we continue to meet the diverse needs of schools across the UK.”
Stanley added: “I’m thrilled to join HCL and lead the company’s food innovation strategy. There’s a huge opportunity to transform school meals into a more exciting, nutritious and globally inspired dining experience. By focusing on sustainability, seasonality and modern food trends, we can offer fresh, relevant meals while staying within budget and continuing to meet the nutritional needs of children.”
