Universities

Universities

From freshers’ week through to graduation we are here to offer you the latest innovation to help attract your students.

We know it’s not easy to continually provide exciting menus that will grab the attention of the next generation whilst generating you profit. Our focus is all about providing you with the solutions to capture the imagination of the student market and generate a profit at the same time!

Our strong partnership with TUCO and insight led approach means we are here to offer you the support you need. Our team of university specialist account managers can support you throughout the year, helping with freshers’ week through to the exam period and then graduation.

Take a look through some of the solutions we can provide you with!

Channel insights

The student market

With the majority of students and university staff eating from university cafés and canteens at least once a week the focus is on getting the student market eating more regularly from your outlets.

Students constantly call for cheaper, healthier, lighter, and more adventurous options on campus but then opt for unhealthy fast food or ‘dude food’ when pushed. Finding the right balance between the healthy options and ‘dude food’.

Trends to consider

Day part dilemma

Millennials don’t eat three square meals a day – according to trend watchers, 35% of their meals are really snacks. This makes capturing spend from hungry students increasingly difficult meaning an offer suiting the student market needs to work around the clock.*

*Mintel 2016

Better me

Healthy foods are all the rage at the moment with students leading the march on creating a better persona. Healthy waters, low sugar snacks and high protein hits continue to grow! Check out our snacking range for more products fitting this trend.

Street eats

Millennials want variety and diverse flavours and whilst they focus on nutrition, food to millennials centres around entertainment and self-expression. Vibrant street food offers help students stay on trend and explore their palates…a definite yes for your menu!**

**Bidfood Student Survey 2016

Our support tools

Freshers’ week

Get your new students locked in for the entire academic year by wowing them in week one. We have a raft of innovative products that are sure to grab your students attention and encourage them to come back for more. We also have great offers on some key core products for you to help you balance the budgets in the first weeks of the term.

Graduation

Our graduation range has the full spectrum of products to suit your celebratory needs! From thaw and serve canapes, scratch cook recipes, fine wines and excellent presentation platters. And don’t forget our top selling tosti prosecco! Check out our graduation guide for a full list of the products available.

Graduation guide

Achieving Food for Life

We’re also a member of the Soil Association’s Catering Mark Supplier Scheme. The Food for Life Catering Mark is a Soil Association assurance scheme to help leading caterers give their customers the confidence that the products they are buying meet the matters they care about.

We are able to provide you with over 9.000 products which meet at least one of the standards, and will help you work towards the Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation.

Managing allergens

One third of the UK population will develop an allergy at some time in their lives. The demand for ‘free from’ products is increasing, so it’s important to know how to cater for allergies and intolerances.

Our team of experts at the Bidfood Advice Centre are available for all your units to answer any question about our products.

Email us at advice_centre@bidfood.co.uk or call us on 0370 3663 000

The right range for you

Alongside offering award winning own brand products, we work closely with our branded suppliers to offer you choice as well as access to the best products and knowledge in university catering.

Our Farmstead fresh meat range has the right products to suit your breakfast, lunch and event catering requirements

View our range

A wide range of wines, beers and spirits perfect for freshers’ week and graduation

View our range

Treat your staff and students to delicious, artisan quality coffee. It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult with Black+White coffee

View our range

Take away packaging, crockery and cutlery to suit your cafes and canteens

View our range

Premium Selection range gives you great quality products to cater for buffet, finger food and fine dining for conferences

View our range

Gluten free, vegan, dairy free – our range helps you provide options to suit various student diets

View our range

Universities

From freshers’ week through to graduation we are here to offer you the latest innovation to help attract your students.

Channel insights

Our support tools

Graduation guide

The right range for you

What’s more, we have a range of brochures to help inspire your chefs…

Freshers’ week