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About the School Lunch Collective model#
The School Lunch Collective is the supplier to external model schools under the alternative provision model.
Every school day, students from a secondary, intermediate, full primary (Years 0 to 8) and composite (Years 0 to 15) external model schools receive a nutritious lunch from the School Lunch Collective.
The School Lunch Collective is led by Compass Group New Zealand in partnership with Gilmours/Trents (FoodStuffs) and several food manufacturers and suppliers based in communities throughout the country. The number and type of suppliers evolves with the menu over time.
Meal – Nutrition, waste and surplus#
Meal quality#
Menus, daily meal photographs and nutritional information is available on their website.
The School Lunch Collective have dedicated dietitians, nutritionists and chefs on staff to guide the menu and to meet the nutrition standards.
Nutrition standards for Ka Ora, Ka Ako menus
They involve students in sampling new meals as they develop menus each term.
Feedback is very important, and feedback can be provided in the ordering portal, to the area manager or to us.
Schools manage the number of meals based on attendance, including common specialist meals on the ordering portal. This helps to reduce surplus and waste.
Our food – School Lunch Collective
Nutrition and wellbeing – School Lunch Collective
Special dietary ordering#
To keep students safe, special dietary meals should be ordered on the portal only for those with allergens, intolerances, and religious or ethical needs.
There are students with food preferences, and we understand taste palette’s can be sensitive, with likes and dislikes for certain food.
By focusing on ordering speciality meals for students at risk of harm, will avoid overloading the special diets system and keep them safe.
Waste#
The School Lunch Collective is committed to managing waste responsibly and supports the environmental goals of the programme.
The recyclable aluminium meal trays are picked up from schools and, where possible, will be recycled. Other waste is collected and disposed in landfill or recycled where possible.
To help with the recycling of meal trays, we recommend students clean off food waste and remove wrapping before putting them in Go Boxes for pick-up.
Poster: Lunch Tray Recycling InitiativeYou can read more about the School Lunch Collective’s commitment of sustainability.
Sustainability – School Lunch Collective
You can read more about waste and surplus for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme.
Waste and surplus for the programme
Daily supply of meals#
The School Lunch Collective reports daily on:
- the number of schools serviced
- the number of meals delivered
- percentage of on-time delivery
- percentage of surplus meals.
Distribution support#
Schools receive ready-to-eat lunches from the School Lunch Collective. There is no longer a need for staff at schools to prepare lunches or heat food before serving.
To support the safe and efficient distribution of ready-to-eat lunches, eligible schools on the School Lunch Collective model can apply for distribution funding for Terms 3 and 4, 2025.
The funding approach extends support to more schools to help deliver lunches safely and effectively. It is based on school type, roll size, and the most efficient distribution method.
Other external model suppliers in the programme are funded to support schools with distribution as a portion of the per meal cost, they currently receive.
You can read more about distribution grant funding on the Ka Ora, Ka Ako website.
Distribution funding – Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme
Other external model suppliers in the programme are funded to support schools with distribution as a portion of the per meal cost, they currently receive.
Meal cost#
The School Lunch Collective receives $3 per meal (240g), per student. An additional 0.84 cents for 2 supplementary food items for Year 9 and older students is provided to meet the minimum 300g nutrition standards for this age group.
This includes common allergens, religious and ethical dietary needs.
Meals are supplied in 1 size of 240g to maximise the efficiency of production and logistics. This helps keep the cost of meals down.
The Services Agreements and cost of the meals is based on a 2-year term which expire on 31 December 2026.
Lunches for Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)#
Schools organise lunch for students when they are on extracurricular activities or education outside of the school grounds.
The exception is if schools can deliver lunch to the offsite location on the same day the meals arrive.
