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School Lunch Collective model update
We have been informed that 1 of Compass's subcontractors, Libelle has been placed into liquidation and a liquidator appointed.
The School Lunch Collective has told us that Compass Group NZ is assuming operations during this transition and will continue to provide meals to all 127,000 students every school day.
Compass Group NZ has assured us that any disruption will be minimised, and the liquidation process will not materially impact the provision of school lunches.
The advantage of the School Lunch Collective is that, if as in this case, 1 business is unable to proceed, the remaining companies pull together to make sure that through their combined manufacturing capacity, knowledge and experience they can respond and adapt.
This is a commercial matter between Libelle and Compass Group NZ. We will closely monitor the situation to make sure all commitments to school meal delivery are met.
About the School Lunch Collective model#
The School Lunch Collective is a partnership between Compass Group, Gilmours (Foodstuffs) and Libelle. Ingredients are supplied by over 17 food manufacturers and suppliers. The number and type of suppliers will grow as the menu evolves over time.
The School Lunch Collective is the supplier to external model schools under the ‘alternate provision’ model in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme.
These schools include secondary, intermediate, full primary (Years 0 to 8), composite (Years 0 to 15), Alternative Education Providers and Activity Centres that receive lunches.
The School Lunch Collective has more information on their website.
You can find out more about the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme here.
Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme: Information for schools
Meal and nutritional information#
You can find information about the meals the School Lunch Collective provides to schools each day on their website.
This includes the:
- nutritional information for the meals
- daily photos of the meals
- menus
- packaging information.
Our food – School Lunch Collective
Nutrition and wellbeing – School Lunch Collective
We have nutrition standards for all providers in the programme. The nutrition standards are the minimum weight of food for students, which includes a balance of protein, vegetables and grains or starchy vegetables.
Nutrition standards for Ka Ora, Ka Ako menus
Daily numbers#
On their website, you can see the School Lunch Collective’s data on:
- the number of schools serviced
- the number of meals delivered
- percentage of on-time delivery
- percentage of surplus meals.
Our impact – School Lunch Collective
Surplus meals#
We do not recommend surplus hot meals are distributed outside of lunch service, as reheating meals twice can come with food safety risks. If there are too many meals, your school can check details on the School Lunch Collective portal to make sure you have ordered the right number for students at school each day.
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) website has more information about food safety.
Cost of the meals#
The School Lunch Collective receives $3 per meal (240g), per student. This includes special dietary meals under the Healthy School Lunches Services Agreement.
Meals are supplied in 1 size of 240g to maximise the efficiency of production and logistics. This helps keep the cost of meals down.
Students in Year 9 and above at School Lunch Collective (external model) schools are provided with 2 extra food items along with their main meal at lunch.
The cost of the 2 additional food items is 84 cents. It is a separate service agreement with Compass Group NZ.
These items are delivered alongside the lunches being provided under the Healthy School Lunches Services Agreement. This uses the same logistics network, for efficiency and value for money.
The cost of meals is set for the 2-year term of both separate services agreements which expire on 31 December 2026.
Distribution of meals at schools#
Your school will receive ready-to-eat lunches from the School Lunch Collective. There is no longer a need for staff at schools to make lunches or heat food before serving.
Grant funding#
We recognise schools and kura with large rolls may need extra support to get lunches to their students. Grant funding of $38 per hour for each school day is available to all schools with a student roll of 350 and over to support this distribution of meals within schools.
The allocation of this funding is based on the school roll. Larger schools need more staff to safely deliver kai | food to multiple eating areas.
The total funding for Term 1 and Term 2 to schools with a roll of 350 and over is:
- Schools with 350 to 750 students – funded 2.5 hours per school day – $4,750.
- Schools with 751 to 1,150 students – funded 3.5 hours per school day – $6,650.
- Schools with rolls of 1,151 to 1,550 students – funded 4.5 hours per school day – $6,650.
- Schools with more than 1,550 – funded 5.5 hours per school day – 10,450.
This is a short-term grant for Term 1 and Term 2, 2025. During the next few months, we will work with schools and kura to develop a long-term cost-efficient distribution solution to meet individual needs for Term 3 and Term 4 in 2025 and in 2026.
Staffing#
Your school can choose how the grant funding is used to support how you distribute lunches. Schools can find their own staffing resource. They can also subcontract the School Lunch Collective to provide staff who have previously worked for a school and indicated they are available to support schools.
How the grant is paid#
The grant is automatically paid in advance for Term 1 and Term 2 in our resourcing system, Pourato.
Waste collection#
The School Lunch Collective will collect aluminium meal trays the day after they are delivered from Monday to Thursday, and every Friday. The aluminium meal trays are to be returned in the black containers (Cambro Go Boxes) the meals arrived in and will be taken to a metal recycling plant.
To help with the recycling of meal trays, we suggest students are responsible for shaking off food waste and removing wrapping before they are placed in the black containers to be picked up.
In most regions, meal packaging and food waste should also be placed in the School Lunch Collective black containers. They will be collected at the same time as the aluminium meal trays.
The exception is schools and kura in Gisborne and Invercargill. These schools will receive a waste management bin for meal packaging and food waste, which will be collected separately.
Lunches for Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)#
Your school needs to organise lunch for students when they are on extracurricular activities or education outside of the school grounds.
The exception is if your school can deliver the lunches to the offsite location on the same day the meals arrive.
The School Lunch Collective will explore future options for providing lunch to students attending a variety of activities outside the classroom.
