Meallmore’s Kitchen Centre of Excellence

At Meallmore, great care doesn’t begin and end with clinical excellence - it lives in the everyday moments that shape people’s lives. Nowhere is that more evident than around the table. Food is comfort. Food is memory. Food is dignity. And increasingly, food is one of the ways Meallmore is redefining what excellence in care truly looks like.

The launch of Meallmore’s first Kitchen Centre of Excellence at Hilton Court Care Home marks a major milestone in that journey. Designed as a regional training hub, the centre is a place where chefs come together to learn, develop and refine their craft - ensuring every meal served across Meallmore homes meets the highest possible standards of nutrition, safety, presentation and enjoyment.

As the first Centre of Excellence within Meallmore’s four regional structure, Hilton Court is setting the benchmark - not just for the organisation, but for the wider care sector in Scotland.

Why Food Matters in Care

Food plays a fundamental role in well-being. It supports physical health, emotional comfort, cultural identity and social connection. In a care setting, it can also be one of the most powerful ways to preserve independence, dignity and joy.

Meallmore’s approach to dining goes far beyond meeting nutritional requirements. Every meal is an opportunity - to listen, to personalise, to respect choice and to enhance quality of life. That philosophy underpins the creation of the Kitchen Centre of Excellence.

By investing in specialist training and shared learning, Meallmore is ensuring that every resident, regardless of which home they live in, benefits from the same commitment to excellence, consistency and innovation.

The Kitchen Centre of Excellence at Hilton Court

The Kitchen Centre of Excellence has been developed as a practical, hands-on learning environment where chefs from across the region can:

• Develop advanced skills in modified diets and texture-appropriate meals
• Deepen their understanding of nutrition, hydration and wellbeing
• Learn best practices in food safety, presentation and menu planning
• Share ideas, techniques and innovation across teams
• Build confidence, pride and career pathways within care catering

It is a space rooted in collaboration, mentorship and continuous improvement - reflecting Meallmore’s belief that learning should never stand still.

Hilton Court was selected as the first Centre of Excellence due to its strong leadership, proven commitment to training and its role as a hub of culinary excellence within the region.

Award-Winning Training and Development

The creation of the Kitchen Centre of Excellence builds on Meallmore’s recent success at the Scottish Care Awards, where the organisation was recognised with the Training and Learning Development Award.

This national recognition reflects the depth of Meallmore’s investment in its people, from structured career pathways to hands-on development programmes that empower colleagues at every level.

The award acknowledges not just individual achievements, but the systems, culture and values that support learning across the organisation.

Celebrating Culinary Excellence

At the heart of the Kitchen Centre of Excellence are the people who bring it to life.

Robert, based at Hilton Court, was named Meals Means More Champion 2025, a national recognition that celebrates excellence in care catering. His passion for food, commitment to residents and leadership within the kitchen have played a key role in shaping the centre and its approach to training.

Alongside this, Anna K, part of Meallmore’s wider culinary team, was crowned NACC Scottish Chef of the Year 2025. Her achievement underpins Meallmore’s belief that care catering deserves the same respect, recognition and ambition as any other professional culinary setting.

These individual successes are not isolated; they are the result of sustained investment, high expectations and a culture that encourages colleagues to strive for the very best.

The Academy of Kitchen Care Excellence

The Hilton Court centre forms part of Meallmore’s wider Academy of Kitchen Care Excellence, a structured programme designed to nurture talent, raise standards and future-proof care catering across the organisation.

Through the Academy, chefs are supported to:

• Progress their careers within Meallmore
• Access specialist training and mentorship
• Develop leadership skills within the kitchen environment
• Contribute to innovation and best practice across homes

This approach ensures that excellence is not dependent on individuals alone, but embedded within the organisation itself.

Living Our Values Every Day

The Kitchen Centre of Excellence is a practical expression of Meallmore’s values:

• Create environments of kindness, where mealtimes are welcoming and dignified
• Act with accountability by setting and maintaining the highest standards
• Recognise the skill, creativity and contribution of kitchen teams
• Engage in learning, development and continuous improvement

It also supports Meallmore’s wider vision: To become Scotland’s most trusted care provider, consistently delivering excellent care in great places to live and work.

Setting the Standard for Scotland

As Scotland’s highest-rated care provider for quality, Meallmore understands the responsibility that comes with leadership. The Hilton Court Kitchen Centre of Excellence represents a bold step forward, demonstrating that investment in food, people and learning is not optional, but essential.

This is just the beginning. With Hilton Court leading the way, further Centres of Excellence will follow across Meallmore’s regions, ensuring that award-winning standards become the norm, not the exception.

Because at Meallmore, excellence is not a destination. It’s a commitment - renewed every day, at every table.