Making an impact through streamlined digital processes

Overview

Aberdeen City Council is a local authority delivering catering services to over 50 primary schools, preparing thousands of meals every day. With a commitment to quality, efficiency and inclusion, the council’s catering team plays a vital role in supporting children’s wellbeing and learning outcomes.

The council required digital solutions that could satisfy both service and client requirements—introducing the ability to generate accurate daily data across sites and enable meal pre-ordering up to four weeks in advance. In 2022, the catering team began working with Cypad to digitise kitchen operations, improve visibility and reduce the administrative burden on staff.

We spoke with David McDiarmid, Catering Operations Manager, and John Landragon, Catering Manager, about how the rollout of Cypad’s Kitchen Manager module has helped transform day-to-day processes and deliver measurable impact.

Challenge

Prior to implementing Cypad, Aberdeen’s catering team relied on manual processes to manage stock, orders and compliance. Each school operated independently, with paper-based records and limited visibility across sites. This made it difficult to track usage, monitor allergens and ensure consistency in food safety practices.

“We had no centralised system. Everything was done manually, which meant we couldn’t see what was happening across our kitchens in real time.”
— David McDiarmid, Catering Operations Manager

The lack of integration created inefficiencies and increased the risk of errors. The council needed a solution that could unify its catering operations, reduce paperwork and support staff in delivering safe, high-quality meals every day.

Solution

Aberdeen City Council selected Cypad’s Kitchen Manager module as a holistic digital meal pre-ordering and kitchen management platform. The rollout began in early 2022, with support from Cypad’s implementation team to onboard staff and configure the system to local requirements.

Kitchen Manager now underpins key processes including stock control, ordering, compliance checks and allergen management. Staff use tablets to record data, complete daily tasks and access real-time information—eliminating the need for paper records and manual reconciliation.

“The system is intuitive and easy to use. Our staff picked it up quickly, and it’s made a huge difference to how we work.”
— David McDiarmid, Catering Operations Manager

The council also uses Kitchen Manager to monitor food safety, track deliveries and ensure that menus meet nutritional standards. The system provides central oversight while empowering individual kitchens to manage their operations efficiently.

“It’s helped us streamline everything from stock to compliance. We’re more consistent, more confident, and more connected.”
— John Landragon, Catering Manager

Impact

Aberdeen City Council has significantly improved the management of food safety documentation, implementing a reliable platform that ensures consistency, compliance and operational visibility across all sites.

Operational visibility: Catering managers can now see real-time data across all school kitchens, enabling faster decision-making and better resource allocation.

Staff efficiency: Tasks that previously required manual paperwork—such as stock checks and compliance logs—are now completed digitally, saving time and reducing errors.

Food safety and compliance: The system supports allergen tracking, temperature monitoring and hygiene checks, helping the council meet regulatory standards with confidence.

Cost control: Improved stock management and ordering processes have helped reduce waste and optimise spending.

Staff engagement: The intuitive interface and mobile access have made it easier for kitchen teams to adopt the system and take ownership of their daily tasks.

“We’ve gone from chasing paperwork to managing our kitchens proactively. It’s a complete shift in how we operate.”
— David McDiarmid, Catering Operations Manager

Conclusion

Aberdeen City Council has transformed its school catering operations with Cypad’s Kitchen Manager. The system supports efficiency, compliance and staff empowerment—helping the council deliver safe, nutritious meals to thousands of children every day.

“I’d recommend Cypad to any local authority looking to modernise their catering service. It’s reliable, flexible and built for the realities of school kitchens.”
— David McDiarmid, Catering Operations Manager

“Aberdeen City Council’s catering team is a brilliant example of how digital transformation can deliver real impact at scale. Their commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration has helped shape the Kitchen Manager platform for the benefit of schools across the UK.”

— ParentPay Group