The competition, held in autumn 2025, received over 1,500 applications from schools across 19 regions where Cherkizovo Group operates. From the 200 finalists who passed all selection stages, organizers selected three winning schools in December. In 2026, their canteens will undergo comprehensive renovations, including replacement of kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, and dishware, as well as interior refurbishment and decorative wall treatments.
One of the winners is Sredneapochenskaya Secondary School (Srednie Apochki village, Gorshechensky District, Kursk Region), which serves 69 students, nearly half of whom have parents working at a local Cherkizovo Group facility. Operating since 2002, the school plays a vital social role in the district, hosting a health camp that welcomes children from nearby communities. The existing canteen is outdated and requires modernization to meet contemporary sanitary standards and provide adequate comfort for students and staff.
Another winner is Shumovskaya Secondary School (Shumovka village, Ulyanovsk District, Ulyanovsk Region), which educates approximately 70 children, including students from neighboring villages. Although the school – built in 1977 – has seen some recent upgrades, such as a renovated gym and new plastic windows, its canteen still needs a complete overhaul, from new furniture to kitchen and equipment modernization.
The third winner is Lyceum No. 2 in Odintsovo (Moscow Region). Founded in 1984, the lyceum currently enrols more than 1,300 students. Teachers regularly form volunteer teams to carry out minor repairs themselves, and the school organizes charity fairs, actively contributing to the social life of its community.
In all renovated canteens, educational posters on healthy eating principles – developed specifically for children in collaboration with experts from Rospotrebnadzor’s Healthy Eating initiative – will become part of the new interiors.
“We warmly congratulate the latest winners of our competition. The selection process is always challenging: we assess not only the physical condition of the canteens but also each school’s contribution to its local community. Past experience shows that our renovations positively impact both meal quality and overall school atmosphere, fostering greater engagement among students, teachers, and parents. We want as many children as possible in the regions where Cherkizovo operates to enjoy meals in comfortable, welcoming environments, and we’re glad to support schools striving for positive change,” said Vsevolod Gribchenkov, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development at Cherkizovo Group.
“Over four years of partnership with Cherkizovo Group, we’ve renovated canteens in ten Russian schools. Each year, we introduce new solutions to create modern, comfortable spaces that meet the everyday needs of students and staff. Throughout this journey, we’ve witnessed tangible results: students increasingly choose to spend time in these modernized canteens, which have evolved into vibrant hubs for socializing and relaxation – not just places to eat. The long-term collaboration between Smenka and Cherkizovo represents consistent, impactful efforts that contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of Russian schools,” commented Arina Nuriakhmetova, a co-founder of Smenka.
In addition to the main renovation projects, Cherkizovo and Smenka also awarded three schools grants of RUB 100,000 each to independently carry out their own repairs. The grant recipients are Bazhikaevskaya Secondary School (Argayash District, Chelyabinsk Region), I. A. Novikov Protasovskaya Secondary School (Mtsensk District, Orel Region), and the secondary school in the Burikazganovo village (Sterlitamak District, Bashkortostan).
Renovations will be implemented by the Cherkizovo Charitable Foundation, established in September 2025. The foundation’s mission is to support the development of local communities and territories where Cherkizovo Group operates through social initiatives in education, sports, residential and recreational infrastructure, and assistance to vulnerable populations.
Smenka is a social business project in education focused on updating school spaces and creating comfortable environments for students and teachers. The project carries out renovations in state and private schools, as well as other educational and cultural initiatives. Its mission is to change attitudes towards the school environment, motivate teachers, and engage students in the educational process.
