Elior, leading contract caterer, along with subsidiaries Lexington, specialist business and industry hospitality caterer, and Taylor Shaw, contract caterer for schools, all took home awards for outstanding achievements in the catering industry.

The award for Senior Executive of the Year was awarded to Catherine Roe, CEO of Elior. Since joining Elior in 2006, Catherine has had an upward trajectory as a disrupter of conventional catering practices. Catherine now leads a UK board which comprises 60% females, fostering a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity throughout the organisation.

The Contract Caterer of the Year award was presented to Lexington following a clear demonstration of innovative partnerships and a genuinely people centric service culture. By innovating new ways of working, delivering industry leading flexible services, and responding to customers evolving demands, Lexington displayed standout results. This was further supported by pushing the boundaries of innovation with The Mindful Kitchen concept, offering diversity and mindfulness surrounding food consumption, and its partnerships with ethical and forward-thinking suppliers. 

Claire Small, director of innovation at Taylor Shaw was handed the innovation award for her work on the Eativerse project. This initiative is a market-leading concept and revolutionises lunchtime in schools, beyond just delivering delicious and nutritionally balanced meals. The Eativerse combines education and entertainment inspiring four to eleven-year-olds to make healthier food and lifestyle choices. The Eativerse places students in a fictional universe, with which they can interact through augmented-reality, exploring how their eating habits impact not only their own development, but the wider world.

Lexington’s managing director, Matt Wood, commented: “What an incredible evening it was across the business. Being honoured with such a title is something we do not take lightly. It is a reflection of the incredibly hard-working team we have at Lexington. This is an award every Lexington colleague can be proud of.”

Claire Small, director of innovation at Taylor Shaw said: “I’m thrilled to have won this award. The Eativerse is such an important part of inspiring and encouraging children to make healthy lifestyle choices now and in the future. It’s an initiative I feel personally passionate about and the response we’ve had from our schools has been incredible.”

Catherine Roe, CEO of Elior, adds “To be recognised across our organisation with three Contract Catering awards of this calibre is very special. I am immensely proud of everyone’s hard work, innovation and dedication to the good work we strive to deliver.”