About Black Pepper School Lunches

How we started

Our story started in the mid-2000s with David, our owner, who managed his own restaurant. As a family man, David understood the joys and challenges of getting his own daughter to eat healthy meals, as well as the wider benefits of a hot meal for children (and their learning) in the middle of the day.

David was also aware of the poor standards of school meals that were being provided in the area and that for some children, the school lunch was the only hot meal they might have that day.

One day, during lunchtime, when the restaurant was closed, he realised he could take advantage of the kitchen facilities he already had, and the suppliers he already knew, to give the local school children tasty, nutritious and locally grown meals while they were in school. He sprang into action and the first school meals were cooked from his restaurant in Ledbury delivering to schools nearby. Black Pepper Lunches was born!

The story so far

What started with David supplying to 3 schools, delivering meals using his own estate car and trying out recipes at family mealtimes, became a full school catering service and has evolved into Black Pepper Lunches as it is today.

Eventually David arranged for someone else to run the restaurant, took on a production unit in Malvern and concentrated fully on making our meals the best they could be, whilst keeping everything in the schools' meals budget. His daughter, Saffie, helped him kit out the unit, finding saucepans big enough for her to sit in! All their efforts then have been realised, with local children enjoying freshly cooked meals within school meals budgets.

Since then, Black Pepper has grown organically, focusing on serving our local communities and area by providing fresh, nutritious school meals with a high level of service. We have always focused on making meals that feel like they are 'home-cooked' and with as much 'goodness' in them as possible.

One of our most important moments in recent times was during the Covid lockdowns. Our approach and operations were both challenged and reinforced, as we organised provision of packed lunches for parents to collect from school, which helped those who were struggling to avoid food poverty.

A child is holding a large saucepan in a kitchen

Why we do what we do

We believe that affordable school food which is enjoyed by children should be the norm. We aim to make food fun and let children have a say in what they are eating. Feedback is genuinely important to us in ensuring that our food remains on trend, and enjoyed by the children.

We are passionate about providing child-friendly meals which are freshly made and nutritious. We know that in disadvantaged areas, children may not have had as many food experiences as others, so we try and help introduce them to new flavours and tastes through their school meals. We work hard to ensure that the food is appealing to the children, whilst ensuring that they receive all the nutrients they need (we are masters of hiding veg in sauces!)

We work with a few trusted suppliers, ensuring that we minimise food miles wherever we can and opt for environmentally friendly choices, such as recyclable packaging where it's available.

Putting community at the heart of what we do

Serving our local community is a key part of our service. We employ local staff who know the areas in which they work, and the schools they work in; some of their children attend these schools and eat the food they prepare. We live in these communities too. We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.

We build relationships to understand exactly what each school needs. We recognise that every school is different and work with them to ensure that each child gets a school meal that tastes good and supports them for the rest of the day. Many of our schools have come to us via referral after they have experienced the service we provide in a previous school; this has greatly supported our expansion and is a testament to our approach.

Our understanding of the community setting means we can give schools additional support where they need us most: through wrap-around clubs, in cooking lessons, providing themed days and making packed lunches (for field trips). There are also added extras like cakes for fete days and help with raffle prizes. We adapt our approach according to the size of school, its facilities and the wishes of the children - we get them to help with planning the menu!

Take a look at our Testimonials page. If you are from a school, please see 'What we can do for schools'