Essex Food Wants You

Essex Food Wants You

Food is something many of us feel passionate about—and rightly so. It brings people together, fuels our days, and often sparks strong opinions. Everyone has their own ideas about what great food and service should look like, and at Essex Food, we want to make sure those voices are heard.

Listening to our community is central to how we move forward. That means understanding your needs and concerns, welcoming feedback, and being open about some of the challenges we face in delivering catering services across the university.

Our ultimate mission is simple but important: to provide students and team members with food options that meet their needs while ensuring the university remains financially sustainable. We are committed to building a culture of collaboration, trust, and transparency—one where every voice genuinely matters.

What’s Next: Essex Food Development Focus Groups

We’re excited to take the next step on this journey by launching the Essex Food Development Focus Group.

This group will meet twice per term with myself or representatives from Essex Food. These sessions will provide a space for open discussion and collaboration, giving participants the opportunity to:

• Share feedback on current catering services
• Suggest new ideas and improvements
• Help shape the future of food offerings across campus

Where proposals are viable, we’ll work together to explore how they can be brought to life.

First Meeting Details

We are planning to hold the first meeting on Thursday, 22 January.

If you’d like to take part, please email Essex Food Enquiries to register your interest.

Further details will be shared closer to the date. Depending on the number of participants, the meeting will take place either online or on campus.

We look forward to working with you and creating a food service that truly reflects the needs and ideas of our community.