What’s Cooking at Orian? A Fresh Take on School and Business Catering Across the North West

John Donnison, CEO of Orian Food Service, and Elaine Watson, Head of Safety and HR, pictured in white during a visit to Litherland High School in Liverpool

At Orian Food Service, we’re serving up something special across schools and businesses in the North West — from Carlisle to Manchester, Liverpool and beyond.

Behind every delicious, nutritious meal we prepare is a team dedicated to excellence in food, safety, and service.

Recently, our CEO, John Donnison, and Head of Safety & HR, Elaine Watson, visited one of our fantastic school catering sites — Litherland High School in Liverpool — to see our teams in action. It was a hands-on day that reflected exactly what Orian stands for: strong leadership, quality food, and care in every plate served.

Boss in the Kitchen, Boss on the Floor

At Orian, we believe the best way to understand our business is to be right at the heart of it. That’s why John and Elaine regularly spend time in our kitchens and dining halls, talking to our catering teams, students, and school staff.

“Being on the ground with our people is where you really see the difference we make,” says John Donnison, CEO of Orian Solutions. “You can’t lead a food service business from behind a desk. You’ve got to understand what’s happening in the kitchen, what challenges our cooks face, and what excites our young diners.”

These visits are part of Orian’s hands-on culture — one that values visibility, teamwork, and open dialogue. When leadership meets the kitchen floor, it sparks ideas, inspires innovation, and reinforces what Orian is all about: great food, served safely, by people who care.

Safety First — Always

Food safety isn’t just a compliance requirement at Orian — it’s our foundation.

Elaine Watson, our Head of Safety & HR, explains:

“We place food safety and governance at the very top of our priorities. Our internal audits are robust, which allows us to maintain absolute confidence in the meals we serve and the systems that support them.”

Every Orian kitchen follows a rigorous set of self-auditing, inspection and training processes to ensure every meal meets the highest standards. From allergen management to hygiene protocols, we leave no detail unchecked.

That commitment gives schools and parents peace of mind — and it gives our catering teams the structure and confidence they need to focus on what they love: creating fresh, healthy meals that children enjoy.

Cooking from Scratch — with Smart Technology

Orian is one of the oldest and largest school meal providers in the North of England, yet our approach is anything but old-fashioned.

We believe in “nutrition first” school meals, cooked from scratch in each school’s kitchen. Our teams tailor meals to individual dietary needs and preferences, ensuring every child can enjoy a restaurant-quality experience at lunchtime.

And thanks to our easy-to-use meal planning app, parents can pre-order lunches for their children — on the day or weeks in advance. The app also provides full ingredient transparency and allergen information, giving families complete confidence in their choices.

By combining traditional cooking values with modern technology, Orian is redefining what school catering can be: fresh, flexible, and focused on wellbeing.

Feeding the Future

Beyond schools, Orian also delivers contract catering services to businesses, councils, and organisations across the North West, bringing the same passion for quality and service to every dining space we manage. Whether it’s a school dining hall, office canteen, or staff restaurant, our mission remains the same — to serve nutritious meals made with care and creativity.

Join the Orian Experience

As Orian continues to grow under new leadership, one thing remains constant: our commitment to fresh food, high standards, and great people.

If you’re a school or business in Carlisle, Manchester, Liverpool or across the North West, looking for a reliable contract catering partner that combines safety, service and satisfaction, we’d love to talk.

Discover what’s cooking at Orian Food Services

Contact our team to learn how we can help your organisation deliver a better dining experience. Call us on 08454 707010 and discover how Orian delivers fresh, safe, cook-from-scratch school and business meals across Carlisle, Manchester, Liverpool and the North West.