Taylor Shaw, the education catering division of Elior, has extended its catering contract with Elliott Hudson College in Leeds, UK, for an additional three years, Public Sector Catering has reported.

The extension comes after two years of providing digital catering services to up to one thousand students daily.

Elliott Hudson College has the distinction of being the first to implement a fully digital and cashless catering operation.

The college's adoption of Taylor Shaw's self-serve kiosk technology led to the installation of a second kiosk, following the positive response from the initial trial.

The introduction of digital screens in the college's café and restaurant allowed students to easily place and customise their orders.

The innovation, inspired by the business and industry catering environment, reduced queue times for both students and staff.

Taylor Shaw's digital advancements are integrated with the college's bursary system, ensuring an inclusive food service experience for all students.

The integration is particularly beneficial for students who rely on college-funded meals.

The investment in technology by Taylor Shaw not only enhances the dining experience but also provides valuable data analytics. This real-time data visibility enables the company to understand student eating habits better and tailor promotions accordingly, the Facilities Management Journal reported.

It also supports the trial of new menu items and the introduction of street food pop-ups.

The Breaz app, another successful initiative by Taylor Shaw, has been implemented in both the on-site Costa Coffee shop and the college restaurant.

The app allows students to order in advance and click and collect services for food and beverages.

A scan-and-go feature supports quick purchases at grab-and-go counters and coffee stations.

Taylor Shaw operations director Lin Ridings stated: “Our digital implementation at Elliot Hudson College exemplifies our constant dedication to improving not just what students eat, but how they experience their food service at college. 

“We believe we are the first catering company to have implemented a fully digital journey like this in a sixth-form college. The enthusiastic response we’ve seen proves it is a welcome success.”