The guide examines how schools can reduce food waste and highlights how increasing student engagement can have a real impact on the cost of catering. It also gives practical and actional steps that schools can take in this area.
Brad Pearce, chair of The School Food People, recently highlighted the intense financial pressure facing school caterers. Labour costs in school kitchens have surged by 28% in just a few years, with combined food and labour costs rising by over 50%. Employers’ National Insurance contributions have climbed a further 19% - piling even more strain onto already overstretched budgets.
It’s against this challenging backdrop that school meals provider, Apetito has launched a free guide packed full of useful information and guidance for schools on how to effectively manage and reduce the rising cost of school catering in midst of labour shortages, tightening budgets and rising food prices.
Rupert Weber, general manager for education at Apetito, commented: “Anyone working in a school knows that kitchens are facing unprecedented challenges, and the last few years have been some of the most turbulent in recent memory.
“Rising food prices, increasing staffing costs, and additional financial pressures have meant that many catering teams are being asked to do more with less, all while maintaining the high standards that pupils deserve. Good nutrition is fundamental to a child’s ability to focus, learn and thrive in the classroom, so compromising on quality simply isn’t an option.
“That’s why we felt it was essential to create this new guide, which aims to give schools clear, practical and genuinely actionable steps they can take to control costs without reducing the standard of meals they serve. Whether it’s reassessing staffing structures, reducing food waste, streamlining menus or improving operational efficiency, there are real opportunities for schools to protect both quality and budgets.
“Our aim is to empower school leaders and catering teams with the tools, insight and confidence they need to deliver a high-quality, cost-effective meal service that makes a meaningful difference to pupils every single day.”
Download the guide for free here: https://apetito.link/schools-cost-effective-guide