Business Details
15 Years
experience
Trusted Nursery Catering Services in Fareham
Hungry Monsters is a family-owned nursery catering supplier based in Fareham, Hampshire, established in 2011. Founded by Martin and Helen Schumacher, our team combines over 35 years of culinary expertise with a deep understanding of childcare nutrition. We specialise in providing freshly prepared, home-cooked meals for nurseries and pre-schools, adhering strictly to guidelines from the Carolyn Walker Trust and Children's Food Trust. Our state-of-the-art 5-star kitchen utilises advanced equipment to ensure exceptional hygiene standards, while our dedicated special diet kitchen addresses allergen requirements with meticulous care. With a client base featuring Ofsted-rated Outstanding settings, we prioritise direct communication with nursery managers and parents, offering transparent processes and a personal service.Our commitment to quality extends to sourcing free-range eggs, Red Tractor meats, and locally grown produce from trusted suppliers. Every meal undergoes rigorous ingredient verification, with traffic-light allergy systems and named-labelled special diet tubs guaranteeing safety. Our logistics team ensures timely deliveries before midday using temperature-controlled containers, supporting nurseries with seamless service integration. This combination of culinary excellence, operational precision, and genuine care for children's nutrition has made us Hampshire's most respected nursery catering provider.
Services
Nursery Catering
Special Diet Meals
Daily Delivery
Menu Planning
Allergen Management
Details
- Year established: 2011
Highlights and features
- We are a local family business with directors available for direct consultation
- Our kitchen team includes chefs with over 35 years of professional experience
- We operate a dedicated special diet kitchen to prevent cross-contamination
- We source ingredients from award-winning suppliers including Red Tractor farms
- Our delivery guarantee ensures meals arrive before midday every day
What people say
Children love the menu
Portion sizes just right
Delivery always on time
Excellent service
Positive parent feedback
Services
Nursery Catering
We provide freshly prepared nursery meals designed for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Our menus follow nutritional guidelines from the Children's Food Trust while incorporating regional British dishes. Each meal uses free-range eggs and Red Tractor-certified meats, with daily deliveries in temperature-controlled containers ensuring food safety until serving time.
Special Diet Meals
Our dedicated special diet kitchen prepares meals for children with food allergies or dietary requirements. Senior chefs follow strict protocols with individual tubs labelled with children's names, using ingredients verified through our traffic-light allergy system to ensure complete safety and traceability.
Daily Delivery
We guarantee morning deliveries to Hampshire nurseries using insulated containers that maintain safe temperatures. Our logistics team, led by a former postal service manager, ensures timely arrivals even during traffic disruptions, with drivers trained in HACCP-compliant handling procedures.
Menu Planning
Our three-week rotating menus balance nutrition and taste preferences for young children. Developed by experienced chefs, they feature seasonal produce from local suppliers while meeting dietary guidelines. We regularly update menus to incorporate new nutritional research and seasonal ingredients.
Allergen Management
We implement comprehensive allergen controls including ingredient verification, separate preparation areas, and staff training. Our nut-free kitchen and traffic-light system provide clear allergy information, with detailed substitute meal options available for common allergens.
People
Martin Schumacher
Director & Head Chef
Qualified chef with over 35 years' experience, Martin founded Hungry Monsters to combine his culinary expertise with childcare nutrition needs. He oversees kitchen operations and menu development.
Helen Schumacher
Director
Co-founder Helen manages client relationships and business operations. With personal experience raising two children, she ensures our service meets practical nursery requirements.
Kate Windebank
Kitchen Team Leader
Leading our kitchen team with 30+ years of high-end catering experience, Kate ensures consistent meal quality and adherence to hygiene standards across all our nursery meal preparations.
Ian Jennens
Logistics Manager
Former Hampshire Postal Service manager Ian oversees our delivery operations, utilising his local route knowledge to guarantee timely nursery meal deliveries across Hampshire.
Questions
What age groups do your nursery meals cater for?
Our meals are specifically designed for children aged 6 months to 5 years, following nutritional guidelines for early years development.
How do you handle severe food allergies?
We operate a dedicated special diet kitchen with separate preparation areas and equipment to prevent cross-contamination.
Do you provide catering for nurseries outside Hampshire?
While our primary service area is Hampshire, we can discuss requirements for nearby locations on a case-by-case basis.
Can we try your catering service before committing?
Yes, we offer obligation-free tastings and trial periods to experience our nursery catering quality firsthand.
How are your nursery menus developed?
Menus follow Children's Food Trust guidelines, featuring regional specialties and British classics in a three-week rotation cycle.
Videos
Reviews (5)
Leapfrog Nursery
Aug 27, 2021
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Everything they promote on their website with respect to the food is absolutely true. They also offer a very slick and robust ordering process. In addition to the above in 25 years of business they are one of our most trusted partners. Martin and his team are very responsive to any queries or issues that can occur from time to time and hence I would highly recommend you give them a try.
Richard Warren
Aug 02, 2021
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Food is okay basic but nothing special. Have changed previous comments as company doesn't like criticism.
Chelsea Cosher
Jul 26, 2021
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Hungry Monsters have catered for my nursery for some time now. They have always been helpful when I have a query and those who deliver to us daily have been very kind and easy to chat to. They have never let us down, even during this difficult year and their meals are healthy and nutritious. We would certainly recommend!
Joseph Wright
Jul 26, 2021
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Great service, lovely food and a company that is large enough to cope with the demands of the nursery sector and yet small enough to care.
Barn Owls Preschool
May 19, 2017
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Great food, great service and great value. Very healthy and varied selection of dishes. Even the staff love lunches
