Andy Lidster secures place at SCOTY final after winning South East heat
As one of the regional winners he will advance to the national final, which will take place at the School Food Show and Forum in July.
The competition, which is sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods, aims to showcase the importance of feeding schoolchildren a hot, healthy and nutritious school meal every day.
Andy made a plant-based main course of homemade rice noodles in a flavoured broth with mince and vegetables. For dessert he created a steamed bao bun with custard, roasted plums and five spiced crumble.
The competition is open to all 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.
The judges at the regional finals rated the school chefs on their use of Premier Food products, working practices in the kitchen, creativity and appearance as well as taste and flavour. New for 2026 competitors were encouraged to add beans or pulses to their recipe.
The national final will once again be held at The School Food Show on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th July 2026 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole with the overall winner announced on the evening of Wednesday 9th July.