Supporting schools and higher education
Looking for a school food supplier that can provide delicious food to enrich your students’ education, all while delivering great value for money?
As the UK’s leading school food supplier, we have over 40 years of experience helping primary and secondary schools (both state and independent) and academies to provide healthy school meals every day. We also support catering teams in universities and colleges across the country.
We have the widest range of own-brand food and catering supplies for schools in UK foodservice, plus a vast selection of familiar names including Quorn, Knorr, Schar and Quaker. Everything from fresh produce and fresh meat to bakery goods and drinks & snacks is of the highest quality to ensure your students are being provided with healthy, balanced and nutritious school meals that will enhance their energy levels and concentration.
Through our expert in-house team, we also provide tailored advice and guidance, including menu support, recipes, quick access to allergen information, and specific category guides for primary, secondary and higher education catering operations.
Primary schools
Products and School Food Plan-compliant menus to help school caterers in primary and junior school kitchens provide healthy school meals every day
Secondary schools
All the school food, drink and catering supplies you need to create a food offer to rival high street outlets, and meet the nutritional needs and personal preferences of pupils aged 11-18
Higher education
Menus, products and catering supplies to help you provide the choice, variety and convenience university and college students require
Primary school menus and planners
Fully revised with 75 recipes including allergen information, all meeting School Food Plan standards, plus simplified dishes to reduce buying lists and help manage staff and skills shortages.
Secondary school menus and planners
Secondary school menus with 3-week planners and over 75 recipes, full allergen and nutritional details, plus plant-forward dishes, Food to Go ideas and daily vegetarian options.
Expertise & experience
Decades of experience working with school food suppliers and providing support to deliver healthy school meals
- Specialist developments chefs
- Education sector marketing experts
- In-house nutritionist
- Technical and quality assurance teams
Education showcase
Get guidance, expert advice and recommendations specifically for school caterers with features like:
- Allergen and nutritional guidance
- Food plans and menu support
- Chef-recommended product highlights
- Interactive digital version
Plant-Forward meals
- Lower costs by reducing meat, poultry and dairy
- No compromise on nutritional value or flavour or plate appeal
- Supports Health & Wellbeing goals
- Positive, practical way to achieve sustainability objectives
10% cashback for your first 10 weeks
Earn 10% cashback on everything you buy in your first 10 weeks* and then receive ongoing offers to build your cashback balance. You can then redeem as credit, donate to charity or spend in the mybrakes rewards store.
Don’t just take our word for it.
Celebrating our great British ingredients
Encourage your students to care about where their food comes from! As a school food supplier, we put locally grown and sourced food in the spotlight. Using British and seasonal food is good practice for schools from an sustainability perspective, but it is also a delicious choice !
Learn more about why schools should be embracing British wholesale food
Value
We understand that schools have tight budgets to manage, so we want to share smart ways to save money and make your budget go further.
Allergen catering / Natasha's Law
Helping you deliver school food that allows children to eat safely and inclusively
- Wide range of free-from products
- Full allergen and nutritional information
- Supply chain monitoring
- Aiding schools in complying with Natasha’s Law
Sustainability
Sustainability is very important to us here at Brakes - learn about how we’re reducing our impact, and how this can help you meet your own CSR goals.
School and Higher Education FAQ’s
A healthy school meal is well-balanced and designed to provide students with the nutrients they need for energy, growth, and focus throughout the school day.
It typically includes a variety of food groups - such as fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins, dairy, and healthy fats - while limiting added sugars and salt, meeting the school food standards.
Combining these elements supports both physical health and cognitive performance, helping students thrive in the classroom.
Brakes offers wholesale school food options that support healthy, balanced meals across all age groups.
A healthy school meal is well-balanced and designed to provide students with the nutrients they need for energy, growth, and focus throughout the school day.
It typically includes a variety of food groups - such as fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins, dairy, and healthy fats - while limiting added sugars and salt, meeting the school food standards.
Combining these elements supports both physical health and cognitive performance, helping students thrive in the classroom.
Brakes offers wholesale school food options that support healthy, balanced meals across all age groups.
Yes, absolutely! We’re not only school food suppliers, we’re nutrition experts with a specialist education team, aiming to ensure students are getting a properly balanced diet, including carbohydrates for energy, proteins for growth, and a rainbow of vegetables for essential vitamins.
We offer a range of tools to ensure you have all the help you need, including a dedicated brochure to offer advice, guidance, and support with food, recipes and menus.
Alongside this, we have a range of plant-friendly guides, including a nutritional guide and money-saving recipes.
Yes! As a trusted school food supplier in the UK, we take allergen catering very seriously, making sure every meal is delicious and safe for every customer.
We recognise that not every diet is the same - that’s why we offer a service of plant-based menus, aiming to lower costs by reducing meat intake, while not compromising on flavour, value, or quality of the meal.
With frozen, fresh and even dried or tinned vegetables, alongside fresh gluten-free breads and meat-free options, we ensure everyone has a meal they can enjoy.
Food can be fun, but also stressful. That’s why at Brakes, we provide support for schools at every level, to make sure they continue to get the most out of our wholesale school food.
At a primary level, we offer 3-week menu planners with up to 75 associated recipes that all meet the School Food Plan Standards. To ensure students are enjoying their lunch times, we help you celebrate calendar events with our school-friendly theme days, providing recipes, menu boards, and even activities to keep students entertained.
We don't stop at lunch; we provide wholesale school food to offer nutritious breakfasts to pupils, starting their day off right.
For secondary schools and higher education, we offer 3-week meal planners, theme day planners including fun flavours and new cultural styles, food to go, and a wide array of soft drinks to support hydration.