Mellors Department Champions: Serving Up Innovation

At Mellors, driving a culture of creative innovation through collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to delivering new and exciting eating experiences for our customers, ensuring every meal with Mellors is memorable. To help achieve this, we are constantly seeking new ways to enhance our offerings, and our Department Champions play a vital role in shaping innovative initiatives.

With a diverse range of perspectives and experience across our 1,800 staff and 350 Mellors units, our team plays a vital role in ensuring new ideas and projects are implemented smoothly. This collaborative approach not only drives innovation but also improves efficiency and actively involves our talented teams in the development process.

One of the ways we encourage innovation is through our Mellors Department Champions programme. Covering marketing, procurement, and food development, our teams have already contributed and delivered some impressive results that will have a lasting legacy at Mellors.

The programme amplifies employee voices, bringing together teams from across Mellors including Catering Managers, Area Support Managers, and Area Managers to share a wide range of perspectives. Our Champions are instrumental in trialling new ideas and gathering insights from those working directly in our units. Their honest and constructive feedback has been key to refining perfecting initiatives before launching them.

Our Department Champions play a vital role in shaping and influencing new initiatives that drive Mellors forward.

Here are some highlights of the impactful work being done:

• Mellors Recipe Pack Feedback: Food Development Champions carried out a review of our recipe pack, reaffirming its essential role in ensuring consistency and quality throughout Mellors. New recipes were added based on feedback and current trends.
• New Product Trials: Champions have been trialling new products, offering valuable feedback to ensure only the most exciting and high-quality items make it to our customers.
• Theme Days: A highlight in schools, Theme Days continue to evolve with fresh, creative ideas shaped by our Champions. Their feedback has taken these events to new heights, offering vibrant, engaging experiences that resonate with students and enrich mealtimes.
• NEW Hospitality Brochure: To better showcase Mellors exceptional hospitality services for events and meetings, we’ve launched a revamped brochure. With vital input from our Champions, the final design is not only customer-friendly but also operationally practical—seamlessly blending creativity with functionality.
• Taste of Asia Concept: This dynamic new initiative celebrates the rich and diverse flavours of Asian cuisine. Guided by Champion feedback, we’ve crafted an authentic and exciting dining experience that introduces students to bold, vibrant tastes that delight and inspire.

These initiatives highlight the power of collaboration in driving meaningful progress. The insights and experiences shared by our Department Champions not only enhance the success of individual projects but also ensure we’re better equipped to meet the needs of our teams and clients. Together, we’re building a more innovative, efficient, and successful future at Mellors.

Interested in becoming a Department Champion? Anyone can apply! We’re looking for team members who are:

• Honest and reliable.
• Open to trying new things.
• Enthusiastic and optimistic.
• Able to provide constructive feedback.
• Ready to play a key role in driving new ideas.

Let us know if you’d like to get involved—you could help shape the next big initiative at Mellors!