MKN hosts SCOTY winner at Germany HQ

We were delighted to welcome two previous winners of LACA School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) along with LACA representatives and ambassadors to our headquarters in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, as part of our continued support for the prestigious competition. 

Holly Charnock from Liverpool, who won SCOTY in 2020 and Robert Chambers from Peterborough, the winner from 2021, were joined by LACA Immediate Past Chair Jacqueline Blake, former Chair Stephen Forster, SCOTY ambassador Carol Harwood and SCOTY sponsor Kate Snow, from Quorn Professionals. 

The study tour, which had been delayed because of COVID-19 restrictions, included an introduction to our state of the art manufacturing facilities in Wolfenbüttel, the chance to see MKN equipment in situ in local restaurants and a trip to a Christmas market. There was also the opportunity to contribute to a round table discussion on school catering trends and challenges, with learnings from the German school catering sector. 

The visitors were accompanied by Stuart Brereton, MKN’s new Public Sector Sales Manager for the UK, together with colleagues from the business in Germany. 

Holly Charnock said: “The trip was fantastic, it was great being able to see the kitchen equipment entering the factory as a piece of metal, being able to follow it right through the manufacturing process and then seeing it being successfully used in the school kitchen. It was very interesting seeing the difference between the service and food in my school and the German school too. 

“Most of all I enjoyed how friendly the German people were. The staff at the MKN factory were amazing hosts and genuinely wanted us to have a good time.”

SCOTY is open to kitchen-based staff involved in the daily preparation of pupils’ meals in schools across the UK whether from a local authority or contract-catered site, managed in-house, academy school or part of a Multi-Academy Trust. Tom Armstrong, the recently crowned winner for 2022, has been invited to attend a similar tour next year.
Stuart Brereton said: “We’re proud to be able to support LACA SCOTY and this trip was a well-deserved reward for Holly and Robert, with the chance to see and experience things that will help further enhance their emerging talent. 

“We were able to show them the state-of-the-art MKN manufacturing facilities and the significant research and development that goes into our products to help bring them to market. They had the chance to meet our own development chefs, learn how to get the most from their equipment, and even had a chance for some downtime in the local German Christmas market.”