Bidfood launches The Interactive Hospital to give meals guidance

Bidfood has launched the third instalment in its immersive platform series with the introduction of The Interactive Hospital.

Following the success of the Interactive Care Home and Interactive Pub, this latest digital initiative brings Bidfood’s expertise to the hospital sector.

Designed as an all-in-one online hub, it delivers tailored guidance across every area of the hospital environment, covering patient, staff and visitor feeding.

Hospitals across the UK are operating under increasing pressure, balancing strict compliance requirements, specialist nutrition needs and varying patient health conditions with tight budgets.

Malnutrition affects between 20% and 50% of hospital inpatients on admission, with further declines expected during hospitalisation (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9790482/), highlighting the vital role catering teams play in patient care.

The Interactive Hospital has been created with this in mind, equipping staff with the tools and knowledge they need to deliver safe, nutritious meals that support recovery and wellbeing.

Developed by Bidfood’s registered nutritionists, chefs and marketing teams, the platform supports a wide range of dietary requirements, including the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), alongside allergens, hydration, fortification and diabetes.

Users can explore seven key areas of the hospital – reception, café area, kitchen, ward, seating area, restaurant and garden – with each space designed to provide relevant, sector-specific content.

The Interactive Hospital features a comprehensive range of resources, including the latest food and drink trends, Bidfood’s Unlock Your Menu industry support hub, and product brochures from brands such as Simply Food Solutions. Users can also access the latest industry insights, blogs, podcasts, videos, recipes and sustainability guidance.

With 75 interactive elements to discover, the platform offers both fresh ideas and easy-to-use resources, and will continue to evolve, with additional recipes, menu cycles and a new healthcare brand refresh planned soon.

Taz Hussain, senior national account manager for hospitals at Bidfood, said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch The Interactive Hospital, designed to support the unique challenges of the healthcare sector. From compliance and specialist diets to budgetary pressures, we understand the complexities hospital caterers face every day.

“This platform brings together our expertise, tools and resources into one accessible hub, helping teams deliver safe, nutritious and appealing meals for patients, staff and visitors alike. Our aim is for this to become a go-to destination for hospital catering teams throughout the UK, offering support, inspiration and practical ideas they can use every day.”