Bright Horizons names winner of inaugural national SuperChef competition

A talented chef from Southampton has been crowned the winner of Bright Horizons’ national SuperChef competition, following a thrilling final held at The Belfry Hotel, Sutton Coldfield on 25 March.

Richard, who is a Regional Chef in the South Division for Bright Horizons, impressed judges at the semi-final held on 18 March at Brakes in Reading, earning a coveted spot in the final three, before going on to take the overall title.

This year’s SuperChef competition, which marks Bright Horizons’ first chef competition, was designed to showcase the creativity and skill of nursery chefs across the UK. Celebrating the passion and talent of chefs and kitchen teams across its nurseries, the initiative saw 30 chefs initially enter, with just six progressing to the semi-final stage, and three competing in the national final.

During the cook-off, chefs were challenged to prepare a dish aligned with Bright Horizons’ food guidance, focusing on nutrition, taste and presentation for young children. Richard won the judges over with his Thai-style pulled chicken, designed to encourage children to try out new flavours, with ginger, lemongrass and coconut milk. He was praised for its flavour, child-friendly appeal and nutritional balance.

The judging panel included senior leaders and food experts from Bright Horizons, alongside a representative from the Bright Horizons Parent Panel, the nursery group’s community of parents who share their stories, ideas and feedback to help shape the nursery experience for children.

As the winner, Richard’s recipe will be featured on the Bright Horizons Spring/Summer 2026 menu, as well as receiving a SuperChef trophy, certificate and prize of their choice up to the value of £300.

Richard, Chef at Bright Horizons, said:
“Taking part in the Bright Horizons SuperChef competition has been a great opportunity to be creative while still focusing on balanced meals that support children’s development, and I’m incredibly honoured to have been chosen as the winner.

“My culinary background is quite extensive – working in restaurants cooking international cuisine before transitioning into fine dining. Now being able to cook for children in my role at Bright Horizons, it’s a joy to see them engaging with and enjoying food, so reaching the final is something I’m really proud of.”

Philip Smith, Managing Director at Bright Horizons, said:
“The standard of cooking throughout the competition was exceptional, but Richard truly stood out. His creativity, technique and commitment to nutritious food for young children made him a deserving winner of our very first SuperChef competition.”

“Competitions like this are a fantastic way to celebrate the important role nursery chefs play in shaping children’s relationship with food and supporting their health from an early age.”

Bright Horizons, a leading provider of high-quality early education and childcare, with a strong focus on supporting children’s health and wellbeing through nutritious meals.