MAGAZINE

As we rapidly approach the end of another year, it’s always tempting to look back over the preceding 12 months and consider what we have – or haven’t - achieved. For me, this month marks the end of my first year as editor of Care Home Catering and I’m sure that everyone will be relieved to learn that I’m no longer quite as clueless about all things care catering as I was at the end of 2023. In fact, I can’t really quite believe the amount of knowledge that I’ve managed to amass, largely thanks to all of the wonderful contributions that have landed on my desk and the people who I’ve met while out and about on visits and at events.  

The latter included the Care Home Catering Forum, which was held in London in June and featured eight speakers, each of whom covered a different area of nutrition in their individual presentations. So encouraged were we by the enthusiasm of all of those who participated, whether as a speaker, exhibitor or an attendee, that the event will return to Farmers & Fletchers Hall in London’s Barbican on 5th June 2025. Turn to page 18 to read all about it.  As previously we will also use the occasion to announce the winners of the Care Home Catering Awards. Find out how to nominate your care catering heroes on page 19.

June was also the month that heralded the launch of the British Dietetic Association’s Care Home Digest. This august publication, which serves as a blueprint for everyone who wants to ensure that older people receive optimal nutrition, was 10 years in the making and marked a real milestone in the history of care catering. In the coming months we’ll be highlighting how it’s working in practice.

After the usual summer lull, autumn was a busy time for care caterers with a whole plethora of different events, one of which was the annual IDDSI Festival that took place in Harrow. This year, a special IDDSI Masterclass preceded the Festival. If you missed it, turn to pages 52-56 and read Rachael Masters’ comprehensive review. 

And talking of modified diets, Care England and OHK have produced a White Paper that addresses dysphagia management in the UK and suggests that it’s time for a sector-wide transformation in dysphagia care. We’ll be covering this in some depth in the spring issue. 

Another autumn highlight was The NACC Training & Development Forum, which is arguably the industry’s premier event. It returned to Nottingham’s East Midlands Conference Centre early in October, with two days of speaker presentations, live cookery demonstrations, an accompanying exhibition and a fantastic Tina Turner tribute act! Never let it be said that care caterers don’t know how to have fun!  If you didn’t make it this year, find out what you missed on pages 36-42. And for a resumé of the association’s achievements in 2024, read NACC chair Neel Radia’s NACC update on pages 34-35.

One of the speakers to address the NACC Training & Development Forum was Jo Bonser who also spoke at the Care Home Catering Forum, when she moved the audience to tears. Read more about her inspiring story in the Big Read on pages 14-16.  

And also in this issue, you can read the latest on dairy and dairy alternatives, in The White Stuff on pages 29-33, learn which breakfast foods and drinks will give you the energy to Get Up and Go on pages 42 and why you should Freeze for Ease on pages 48-50. And those in the market for a new oven, should immediately turn to pages 20-25 and read The Heat is On before making their selection.

Elsewhere, you’ll find our regular news and product pages and finally, you can sit down and enjoy our recommendations for Sweet Nothings on pages 46-47.

So, as 2024 draws to a close, all that’s left for me to do is wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful new year!