The reformation of the healthy school lunch programme, Ka Ora Ka Ako, had crossed a significant milestone.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has invited food manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, and distributors to register their interest in the new and improved Healthy School Lunch programme.
“The Healthy School Lunch programme delivers lunches to over 240,000 children. It is a great opportunity for enterprises in the food industry to be a part of one of the biggest food programmes in the country,” said Seymour.
Earlier this year, the re-designed Healthy School Lunches programme was announced. From Term One 2025, healthy lunches will be delivered to the students who need the greatest support in a smarter way that reduces cost, as well as surplus food and waste.
“The next step in the process is for enterprises with existing food infrastructures across communities to register their interest and pitch for being part of a more efficient Healthy School Lunch programme.”
Registration of interest in the Healthy School Lunch programme will be open on the Government Electronic Tender Service (GETS) website from Monday 12 August 2024.
“Using economies of scale and working with experts in wholesale food production and distribution might seem like common sense but both aspects were absent under the previous Government,” said Seymour.
“The Ministry of Education and an expert advisory group consisting of commercial and not-for-profit experts in procurement, logistics and contracting, as well as child welfare and nutrition, have been working hard to realise this vision.”
Seymour believed the Government can deliver delicious lunches for the children for a lot less than the previous Government spent on each meal. He added that there had already been engagement with representatives from schools, kura, boards and sector leaders.
“I acknowledge this is a very important project at this time due to the current cost of living and food insecurity, which impacts the most vulnerable children. I am excited for the market, not just because of the commercial opportunity in this challenging economic environment but because it supports some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children.”
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