They have been named in both the University Catering Award and the Marketing Award.
For the first category, the judges were looking for improved customer experience, clear sustainability policies, and strategies and action which has seen revenue and profit generation strengthen.
As part of their submission, the team explained their approach to improving sustainability and collaboration with other teams. Examples included removing single-use disposable products from dining halls; supporting more local suppliers; committing to the #20percentlessmeat initiative; and working closely with FREEC student reps.
Furthermore, the team supported the University in providing more than 120,000 meals to self-isolating students for free in 2020. They also supported students living off-campus who were struggling financially, as well as collaborating with Loughborough Students’ Union Soup Kitchen initiative to deliver free hot meals to vulnerable people in the local community.
For the second category, organisations that launched a successful marketing campaign that exceeded expectations and stood out were named finalists of the Marketing Award.
For Loughborough, it has created a group of unique brand identities with the support of Creative and Print Services that reflected on its core values and passion for an excellent customer experience.
Since the introduction of these new brands, the team has gone from serving 774,000 customers per year to 960,000. Furthermore, annual revenue has significantly increased, and more students have been eating in catered halls than ever before.
To complement the brand designs, the Catering team also refurbished two retail outlets on the Loughborough campus; gave their webpages a new look and feel, and launched their own social media channels.
The announcement of the shortlisting follows the success from the end of last year, when the team were presented with ‘Business team of the Year’ at the 2020 CUBO Awards.
Head of Food and Drink Gagan Kapoor commented: “I would like to say a huge thank you to all 176 of our staff members who help to run our range of premium-quality shops, cafes and bars across campus.
“It is thanks to all your hard work especially during a very challenging last year that we have been shortlisted in two categories at the awards, and you are a credit to our University.”
The awards will take place on 9 September at the London Hilton Metropole. Find out more about the awards here.