The Educator Magazine U.K. September - December 2025 issue. - Magazine - Page 33
The secret behind
Dolce’s rapid rise:
What makes this year’s ‘Contract Caterer of the Year’ different
When Dolce School Catering scooped the
coveted Contract Caterer of the Year title at
the 2025 Public Sector Catering Awards earlier
this year, the win marked more than just a
trophy. It was recognition of a family-run
business that has quietly been reshaping
the education catering sector, combining
innovation, people-first values, and a genuine
understanding of schools to deliver
extraordinary results.
Revolutionising school dining
The award itself was no small feat.
The category spans the entire public sector
catering landscape, not just education.
For Dolce - a company focused entirely on
schools - to triumph against such broad
competition highlights the scale of its impact,
uniqueness of its approach and cemented the
business as one of the most influential players
in UK catering today.
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.
So, what exactly makes Dolce different – and
how has it grown so rapidly?
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.”
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.
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.
For further information please visit: https://
www.dolce.co.uk/
