How Our Major Themes Are Bringing Fun to School Catering

At gather by Cater Care, we believe that school catering should be more than just a meal—it should be an experience. That’s why we’ve taken our theme days to the next level and brought in more of our Major Themes, creating moments of joy, engagement, and connection for students across schools and universities. With decorations, activities, and specially crafted menus, our themed events transform ordinary dining halls into vibrant spaces where students can explore new flavours, cultures, and traditions.

Making school catering an experience

Theme days are our way of making mealtimes more interactive and memorable, to break free from the mundane day-by-day. From small, festive touches like Halloween treats and Christmas feasts to full-scale, immersive events like Viking banquets and international food nights, each theme is designed to bring excitement and variety to the table.

• • Monthly mini-themes: Fun, easy-to-enjoy celebrations like Halloween or the Lunar New Year.

• • Major Themes (quarterly): Larger, fully themed experiences with elaborate decorations, music, costumes, and interactive elements.

Since rebranding gather, we have doubled the number of Major Themes rolled out each year. This has created lasting memories, and our clients have truly enjoyed the experience, with students now able to have even more opportunities to experience something special. In fact, student satisfaction with theme days has risen by 18%, and feedback shows they want even more international food nights and cultural celebrations.

 

How we bring themes to life

Every theme is carefully planned to ensure it’s fun, engaging, and suited to each dining environment.

• • In schools: Since lunch breaks are short, we focus on visually impactful decorations, themed menus, and quick-service options to maximise engagement. Students love special themed desserts and grab-and-go items that bring the fun to their meal without slowing them down. Our approach to food catering for schools ensures that students get both nutrition and excitement.

• • In universities: With extended dining times, our teams can go all out! Three-day Halloween celebrations, Cowboy Night with live carving stations, and Italian Night with authentic dishes have become student favourites, fostering connection and community. Our university catering approach enhances student engagement through memorable, immersive dining experiences.

 

More than just a meal

Theme days are about more than food—it’s about the full dining experience. Themes are the ideal opportunity to create shared moments, spark conversations, and introduce students to new cultures and traditions, bringing an element of education to the dining table. This can be cultural with a Japanese sushi night, an Italian pasta festival, or a Viking-inspired feast, or even based on popular holidays. Our themes turn dining into an immersive experience that brings people together and breaks up a day of learning for a moment of break.

By continuously evolving our program, listening to student feedback, and adding more exciting themes each year, gather by Cater Care is making school catering and dining something to look forward to. And with an ever-growing lineup of creative events, we’re proving that food isn’t just fuel—it’s a way to connect, celebrate, and enjoy every bite. After all, we believe ‘the fondest memories are made gathered around the table’.

Want to experience the fun? Get in touch with David below to see what Major Themes can bring to your educational facilities tables.