The theme of this year's LACA Main Event is "Levelling Up School Food". With significant cost increases, staffing shortages, and funding shortfalls, providing nutritious meals to children has become increasingly challenging. In response to these challenges, LACA has launched a campaign urging all political parties to commit to a minimum funding level of PS3 per meal (index linked) in their general election manifestoes.
The programme and features at the Main Event will address the disparities in school meals funding across the nations and explore strategies to ensure that all children and young people receive the very best school food to support their growth and learning.
It has never been more important to establish common ground and a collective voice on the importance of school food and the growing pressures operators are facing to provide this vital service.
The ever-popular LACA Live returns with cookery demonstrations taking place in the Palace Suite on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July.
View LACA Live Programme
Our informative Workshop Sessions will run on Wednesday morning with practical, interactive sessions.
View the Workshop Programme
Main Event Delegate Programme
The programme below outlines the closed sessions which are only accessible for delegates.
Wednesday 3 July 2024
9.30 | School Food Show exhibition opens |
10.30 |
Workshop Sessions, Arden Suite 10.30 - Workshop 1: Workforce standards and apprenticeships - Beverley Baker 11.00 - Workshop 2: Case Study - Thames View Infant School, Paul Jordan 11.30 - Workshop 3: LACA Ask the Experts - Judith Gregory, LACA National Vice Chair; Brad Pearce, LACA Immediate Past Chair; Derek Wright, LACA Board member. |
12.00-14.30 |
Lunch & exhibition viewing Halls 1 & 2 12.15 - Session TBC 13.15 - McCain Foods |
14.30 | LACA Forum opens Forum chair, Michael Hales LACA's year in focus 2024 |
14.45 | Opening Address and Introduction to this year’s Main Event Anita Brown, LACA National Chair Mark Sargeant, LACA Ambassador LACA’s National Chair will be joined by the new LACA ambassador to update delegates on current plans and objectives including campaigning. |
15.10 |
Four Nations – Levelling up School Food |
16.10 |
Keynote session: Ultra-Processed Foods and diet – busting the myths A topic that is never off our screen but massively misunderstood and lacking clear definitions. Dr Michael will try and tackle the definitions of what Ultra processed is and why it is so bad for our and particularly our children's diets. He will also apply his understanding to the school food service and how it can continue to deliver the volumes and nutritional benefits within the tight budget restrictions. |
17.00 | Forum day one closes |
19.30 | LACA informal icebreaker evening, Kings Suite |
Thursday 4 July 2024
8.30 |
LACA Forum delegate registration opens - hotel and Monarch foyers |
9.30 | Forum day two opens Forum chair, Michael Hales Welcome and LACA Year in Focus 2024 |
9.45 |
You are what you eat – panel session Three presentations updating delegates on key areas such as allergens, UK farming developing towards net zero+ delivery and current thinking on nutrition and how to educate children on this subject will be followed by an investigative Q&A session. |
10.35 |
LACA Allergens Guidance Update As legislation changes and research in to allergens advances the LACA guidance and risk assessment form need to keep pace. Stephen Forster has led a team of experts who will share the new support functions available free to all LACA members. |
10.55 |
The missing voice: What we aren’t talking about within the school food sector. |
11.25 |
Calculating the price of a school lunch School Food Matters healthy zones programme have conducted detailed research into determining what it costs to produce delicious, nutritious and sustainable meals in primary, secondary, special schools and alternative provision settings in England. Brad Pearce chaired the advisory group on the project and will share the findings that we hope will support LACA’s call for a minimum funding of £3 per child per meal. |
11.45 |
ParentPay Research 2024 & the LACA Cost of Living Survey Update |
12.00 |
Political and General Election Update What can we expect under different Governments? Some time in 2024 or January 2025 at the latest will see a general election in the UK. LACA’s political and lobbying advisor Lee Petar will tell us what school food policies we can expect under the different party leadership and when. |
12.20 |
Lunch and exhibition viewing including LACA Live in Hall 1 12.00 - LACA Grab 'N' Go Challenge sponsored by SchoolGrid - Now in it’s second year, the winner of the 2024 Grab & Go competition will be announced on Wednesday 3rd July and will demonstrate their winning dish on the LACA Live theatre on Thursday. 12.45 - Mark Sargent, LACA Ambassador - Former National Chef of the Year and now LACA Ambassador, Mark Sargent will give us his spin on tasty and nutritious meals for school customers. 13.45 - Tilda and Vegpower - The third winner of the Tilda/Vegpower Award will demonstrate some of the dishes they create in their schools each day to show they’re a worthy winner of this year’s award and inspire others. |
14.30 | Forum resumes |
14.45 |
Getting the attention of the educated buyer – Mastering Customer Obsession: Aligning Sales, Marketing, and Engagement in the Digital Age John will concentrate on the concept of 'Customer Obsession'. The presentation will underscore the rapid evolution occurring across various industries and the unprecedented importance of aligning sales, marketing, and customer engagement teams to adapt to these changes. |
15.15 | Speaker and content TBC |
15.45 |
Keynote session: Dr Amir Khan The importance of nutrition in children’s diets and the impact of good nutrition at an early age on other public health bodies including the NHS. |
16.30 |
Finishing Touches 2024 |
16.45 | Forum day two closes; exhibition ends |
19.00 | Drinks Reception, Pavillion Suite |
19.30 | LACA Awards for Excellence Dinner, Kings Suite |