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The challenge, which is sponsored by SchoolGrid, has been launched to find the best Grab ‘N’ Go recipe for the school meals sector. Competitors are required to prepare cook and present four portions of a Grab ‘N’ Go savoury snack with a total cost per head of 85p.

Registrations of interest open until Friday 27th February 2026. School chefs must submit their entry form by Friday 27th March 2026. Entries will be paper judged with the best eight invited to cook off at a central location in mid-May 2026.

Brad Pearce, chair of LACA, commented: “Grab ‘N’ Go is a fundamental part of the school food service, particularly in secondary schools and academies, so we are delighted that the challenge is returning for 2026.

“The School Food People would like to thank SchoolGrid for their continued support of the challenge; the ideas developed by the incredible school chefs who compete are an inspiration and help us all to develop this vital aspect of the service.”

Three finalists will be invited to The School Food People School Food Show on Tuesday 7th July 2026 to cook their Grab ‘N’ Go item in a competition environment to decide the winner. Marks will be awarded for:

• Originality of the finished dish
• Ease of eating on the go
• Practicality of the dish in a school setting
• How well the flavours and ingredients work together
• Variety of textures in the finished dish
• Appealing to look at
• Appealing taste of the finished dish

The overall winner will be announced at the Informal Dinner on Tuesday 7th July. The winner will demonstrate their winning recipe on the School Food Live demonstration theatre at the School Food Show & Forum on Wednesday 8th July.

The competition is open to all staff that hold a kitchen-based post and who are involved in the daily preparation of students’ meals. Contestants may work in more than one kitchen as a mobile chef. Management, area managers, training managers or development chefs are not eligible to enter.

Download the entry pack for more information.