In 2024, Lexington were recognised for their significant industry contributions and accomplishments throughout the past year, being named winners of the prestigious Contract Caterer of the Year Award!
As the next season of the Contract Catering Awards approaches, Lexington Managing Director, Matt Wood, sat down with Contract Catering Magazine to reflect on Lexington’s success at last year’s event.
It goes without saying that the competition in this category is particularly fierce. Lexington had to have a truly exceptional year – and be able to relay this to our panel of expert judges – in order to claim the much-coveted title.
“The hospitality industry evolves at a rapid pace and to stay relevant you must constantly be evaluating your service offering,” the company’s genial managing director Matt Wood says. “At Lexington, we identified that focusing on experience-enhancing technology, consumer-centric social value initiatives and authentic culinary innovation, along with how we look after our team internally, would help improve the overall customer experience and allow us to stay ahead of the game.”
Wood’s team then set about implementing a large number of impressive initiatives in order to help them to achieve this ambitious goal. They began with the Mindful Kitchen concept, which was devised in response to customers’ increasing desire for more mindful food consumption.
“We re-evaluated how we look after people and the planet through our choice of suppliers and meals served sustainably,” explains Wood. “We introduced the fully digital LexEats solution, a digital tool that enables a cashless, seamless, digital queue-busting experience.”
Looking internally, and to help attract and retain the best talent in the industry, the caterer relaunched its award-winning Chef School, designed to provide foundation skills and knowledge to budding chefs of the future. It also partnered with the City of Westminster College’s Supported Internships programme, helping young people with special educational needs and disabilities gain meaningful employment. To support individuals transitioning out of homelessness, it opened an industry-first cafe in partnership with Fat Macy’s, offering culinary training, one-on-one support and access to rental deposits.
The caterer also continues to host its annual Lexington Leadership Conference. “Over 150 passionate members of our team come together with our leadership team to celebrate success and exceptional talent within the business,” says Wood.
“This is only a small flavour of our investment in our people, our customers and our environment. Through continued social value, wellbeing and environmental commitments and initiatives, our drive and ambition is palpable, as demonstrated through being presented this Contract Caterer of the Year Award.”
This is clearly an impressive list of achievements – but why more specifically does Wood think Lexington triumphed against such tough competition? “I believe that a genuine approach to improving experiences with the right intent is what sets us apart,” he reasons. “At Lexington, we know how important it is to listen, both to the customers and our internal team.
“Having open conversations is how we develop, change and reevaluate ourselves on an ongoing basis. If both our customers and our staff are happy, and we are making a positive social and environmental impact, it fosters a lovely ecosystem for doing food. I think people can tell when that is genuine.”
Despite this impressive record of sustained accomplishments, the modest Wood says he still didn’t assume anything was in the bag. “I don’t like to take anything for granted, or ever to presume. I think, as a leader, it is a dangerous place to be if you’re stagnant and expectant of something.”
“I am extremely proud of the diligent hard work that has been done across the team at Lexington to create this community. Winning this award is testimony to every Lexington colleague’s continued hard work, commitment and collaboration.”
This focus on the achievement of the whole company remains a theme when he is asked what the long-term effect of this victory has been. “This recognition is a badge of honour for the entire Lexington Catering team,” he says, “Everyone was so proud to receive this award and the success is shared evenly throughout the business. It’s nice to know what you’re doing is really making an impact and helping to shape the industry as a whole.”
Likewise, the amiable Wood concludes our chat by graciously praising his wider colleagues when he looks back on last year’s event. “It felt like a real celebration from across our entire industry,” he recalls. It’s always so humbling to see all the fantastic work everyone is doing to spearhead what is such a fantastic, innovating and caring industry.”
