We’re proud to announce that the Rising Star Award at the prestigious Cateys Awards 2025 was our very own Sandra Juan Delgado, Sustainability Manager for Sussex Uni Food.

The Cateys, often described as the Oscars of the hospitality industry, celebrate excellence across hotels, restaurants, pubs, and foodservice businesses.

Joining the Sussex Uni Food team in 2023, Sandra quickly became a valued and indispensable team member, creating and delivering a sustainability strategy across our campus cafés.

Bringing together the ambitions of Chartwells, our catering partner, and the University, Sandra has championed environmental sustainability and social impact, delivering impressive improvements.

Leading positive change

Sandra’s returnable cup scheme alone reduced single-use waste by 30%, saving over £6,500 and diverting 35,000 cups from landfill in just nine months. She also helped cut food waste by nearly 40% through smart tracking and menu changes.

Another success was the University’s Food Waste Festival, organised by Sandra for Stop Food Waste Day. Nearly 200 students attended the event, which featured meals made entirely from surplus ingredients - an inspiring example of how creativity and education can drive change.

Building communities

Sandra’s impact goes beyond the environment. She’s deeply committed to social value, partnering with charities and leading initiatives like a Christmas collection with St Peter’s Church in Brighton that supported 130 people experiencing homelessness. She also works with Ambitious about Autism to create inclusive career pathways in hospitality and mentors students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in sustainability careers.

Her collaborative spirit and people-first approach have made her an invaluable part of the team. As Mark Lawrence, Contract Director at the University of Sussex, put it: Sandra is “genuinely one of the most valuable team members I’ve worked with”, and added: “I honestly can’t imagine this contract without her.” 

Congratulations to Sandra on this well-deserved recognition. Her work is helping shape a more sustainable, inclusive future on our campus and beyond – we’re lucky to have her leading the way.