Education caterers forced to cut portion sizes

In the last five years, the education catering industry has seen substantial price hikes, some as high as 30%, affecting a range of items and services. Brita Professional has carried out research among those who work in the sector to identify the biggest challenges within the supply chain and how education professionals are overcoming these to reduce the impact on businesses and employees.

As part of the company’s Rely Chain campaign, the research revealed that when it comes to school meals, education caterers have faced notable challenges affecting supply chain reliability. These include rising costs/inflation (71%), labour shortages (51%) and ingredients shortages (47%).

As a result, there has been a knock-on effect on other service elements. These include staff mental health being impacted negatively (66%), using outdated or broken equipment (47%) and offering smaller portion sizes (45%). 

However, schools and caterers remain unwavering in their commitment to not compromise on quality. Notably, the primary factor influencing their choice of suppliers is product quality, while supplier reputation ranks as the least important consideration.

Chris Fay C.F.S.P, business account manager for Brita Professional, said: “When it comes to putting a plate of food on the table, education caterers have been confronted with some immense challenges in delivering nutritious and high-quality meals. Our research shows the far-reaching impact of rising costs, inflation and supply chain issues, and how caterers have had to clearly and quickly adapt by cutting portion sizes to ensure a limited impact on providing nutritious meals.”

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