Compass Group, a global catering company, leads the School Lunch Collective, which was awarded the $85 million annual school lunch contract last year. The new programme only started rolling out in January.
The liquidators said they have immediately engaged with Compass to support continuity of service.
“The liquidators are undertaking a full and urgent review of all of Libelle’s operations, with our immediate focus being working with Libelle’s employees and affected stakeholders to ascertain the way forward, including ensuring students around New Zealand continue to receive their school lunches,” said liquidator David Webb.
Libelle has also offered residential catering, tuckshop solutions and school catering services for the past 20 years.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour said the liquidation process will not materially impact the provision of school lunches.
“This is a commercial matter between Compass and Libelle. Compass has assured the ministry that any disruption will be minimised, and the liquidation process will not materially impact the provision of school lunches.
”To ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the school meals provided by Libelle central production kitchens, the Compass Group has told the ministry that it will assume operations during this transition and take responsibility for providing meals every school day.”
Compass boss Paul Harvey said his priority remains ensuring that 120,000 students continue to receive nutritious meals every school day through the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme.
“Deloitte, as liquidator, has asked Compass Group New Zealand to help manage the transition and ensure stability while exploring options for Libelle’s future. To minimise disruption, Compass has taken immediate steps to support Libelle, including ensuring staff wages are paid and keeping kitchen facilities running,” Harvey said.
“We recognise the vital role that Libelle’s staff and partners play in delivering school lunches, and we are committed to ensuring the future of Libelle as part of the programme and supporting its people through this process.”
Seymour reformed the Healthy School Lunches programme last year, saying it would save taxpayers’ dollars.
But so far it’s been plagued with issues under the new contractor, including late deliveries, lunches not turning up and issues with the quality of food.
It’s led to upset parents and principals across New Zealand pleading with the Government to revert to the old school lunch system.
In a letter to Seymour last month, the Principals’ Federation (NZPF) said “teething issues” were still ongoing after a month.
“Minister Seymour’s cost-saving system for the lunches, introduced this year, has not however won the hearts and minds of school principals, particularly in areas where well-established, community-driven solutions were already working effectively.”
Seymour has said he expects the ongoing issues with his school lunches to be sorted by the next school term.
