HC-One’s Chris Bonner has been promoted to the newly formed role of executive chef and nutrition and hydration lead.

HC-One’s operates around 300 homes across Great Britain.

In his new role, Bonner will be responsible for the development of HC-One’s culinary offer, working with internal and external teams to create menus for those living in HC-One care homes. He will centrally co-ordinate and direct the work of HC-One’s development chefs to ensure the homes provide quality and nutritional menus through the training and development of its onsite teams.

Bonner has worked in the catering industry in different sectors over the past 25 years. He previously worked as a head chef for five years at Helen McArdle Care, before the group was acquired by HC-One, which promoted him to the new role of development chef for the company.

Some of Bonner’s achievements since joining HC-One include producing a special diets programme to provide specific recipes and menus for a variety of complex dietary requirement including cultural and religious, vegan and vegetarian. He has also provided a whole home approach suite of training materials to implement the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) to help those with a swallowing difficulty and creating HC-One’s quarterly seasonal menus.

In November Bonner won ‘The workforce development award’ at the Northeast region of the Great British Care Awards. This means he has progressed to the national finals of the Great British Care Awards taking place on 17 March at the ICC in Birmingham.

Mark Meacham, HC-One’s head of catering and housekeeping support services, said: “Chris has made a huge impact at HC-One during his time with the company and brings great amount of experience to this new role. Chris’ creativity and user-centric design of food adds to residents’ quality of life and care, while meeting their nutritional goals for modified diets.

“He is a true asset to HC-One. Chris’ promotion is well deserved, he works hard and shows kindness to his fellow colleagues. I’m really proud of Chris, he is a role model to others, and he’s achieved some amazing results through the work he has carried out. I look forward to seeing what Chris goes on to achieve next in his new role.”