It’s been an outstanding year for the SchoolGrid team.
The company finished the academic year on a high at The School Food People Awards of Excellence in July, winning the Outstanding Supplier of the Year Award (SME) 2026.
The celebrations continued, as our Chair of the Board, Lin O’Brien MBE won the Roger Davis Outstanding Achievement Award, after a secret nomination from the SchoolGrid Commercials Team.
The ceremony was held on the final day of The School Food People Show & Forum, on Wednesday 8th July, and attended by leaders from all corners of the industry.
Brad Pearce, chair of The School Food People, said: “I was truly excited for this year’s newly re-titled The School Food People’s Awards for Excellence 2026 which provide the opportunity for colleagues and members to demonstrate and shout about the amazing things they do, day in and day out of the school year, to support pupils, schools and families, delivering the very best our industry has to offer.
“Once again, the dedication of individuals, teams and organisations working in schools, or supporting the businesses, across the regions has gone beyond anything we’ve previously seen. We know times are difficult but having been involved in some of the judging again this year, I can also say that the number of entries, and the quality, has never been higher.”
Both awards mark an important milestone in the SchoolGrid timeline, as 2026 has been a year of triumphs for the company. Our most successful year of trading in 19 years and the cross-department dedication that has made it possible. The company has scaled every team in the business, from Sales to Support and Development, as we continue to grow our position within the market.
“As we continue to grow the business from strength to strength, we’re thrilled to have been recognised for the services, support and team that make SchoolGrid.
Next year will be SchoolGrid’s 20th Anniversary, and to enter 2027 with such a passionate team and shared mission is exciting. It’s been an honour to work alongside Lin and have her continued support. The most deserving recognition for a true titan of the school food industry.” Says Founder & CEO, Dugald Curtis.
Lin O’Brien MBE speaks about her award, “To be nominated for the Roger Davis Award by my colleagues at SchoolGrid was a real honour for me. To win the Award was amazing! My career in education catering has been a wonderful, rewarding journey – working to provide good school food for children.”
What’s next for SchoolGrid?
As we enter the new academic year with a record number of mobilisations, our teams are busy delivering a human-first service and attending go-lives across the country. In November, we will be exhibiting at The Schools and Academies Show at the NEC in Birmingham. If you’re attending, drop by our stand (D46) for a chat with a glass of Prosecco!
Looking forward to 2027, we have exciting new product updates, as we continue to shape our system around the needs of our customers. Our mission is to ensure school kitchen management is simple, safe and supportive for everyone, from School Chefs and offices to Heads of Catering.
