Less Administration. More Time for Teaching.

One Beyond helped Tante Marie replace an ageing database with a web-based culinary management system, bringing ingredient ordering and student learning materials together while reducing duplicate data entry.

At a glance

Connected Planning

The system linked lesson timetables and recipe schedules with ingredient ordering and student materials.

Accurate Ordering

Ingredient quantities were calculated around planned lessons, demonstrations and student numbers.

Reduced Duplication

Centralised recipe information reduced the need to enter the same data separately for ordering and Diploma Files.

Simple Operation

A user-friendly interface was designed for teaching staff without specialist IT training.

Ongoing Support

One Beyond continued managing the software after launch, supporting the academy’s plans for growth.

"I’m a chef by trade, and what I wanted One Beyond to create was a system that is completely user-friendly, so that I could bring a new member onto my team who has no computer training, and he or she could easily grasp how to use the database."

Andrew M., Director and Principal, Tante Marie Culinary Academy

About Tante Marie Culinary Academy

Established in 1954, Tante Marie Culinary Academy provides cookery education for aspiring professionals, experienced chefs and home enthusiasts. Based in Woking, Surrey, the academy’s courses range from one-day workshops to full-time professional diplomas. Its teaching combines practical culinary skills with opportunities to gain experience in a working restaurant environment. Graduates have pursued careers across catering, hospitality, food journalism and recipe development, reflecting the breadth of the academy’s training and its longstanding contribution to culinary education.

The Challenge

Tante Marie relied on an ageing Microsoft Access database that had become slow, labour-intensive and prone to crashing. With support for its software version ending, the academy faced the prospect of returning to manual ingredient calculations if the system failed. Staff also maintained student Diploma Files separately in Word, duplicating recipe data and creating additional work and errors. The replacement needed to retain ingredient calculations across around 2,000 recipes while expanding into timetables, recipe schedules and educational materials – all within a system that teaching staff could use confidently.

Our Solution

One Beyond worked alongside Tante Marie to understand its existing database, daily processes and teaching requirements before developing a replacement web-based system. We brought recipe information into a central database supporting both ingredient ordering and the creation of student Diploma Files. Ordering calculations drew on lesson and demonstration timetables to produce the required quantities, while shared data reduced repetitive input. Built using Microsoft SQL Server and ASP.NET MVC, the platform offered internet access and resilient hosting, with ongoing support to help the software evolve alongside the academy.

A closer look at features and benefits

Centralised recipe information

Ingredient quantity calculations

Supplier ordering lists

Lesson and demonstration planning

Student timetable generation

Recipe schedule creation

Automated student Diploma Files

Reduced duplicate data entry

Internet access for staff

"What we wanted One Beyond to do was create a piece of web-based software that they can manage in time, so as the technology evolves the software can grow with our company."