Monday, 14 September 2020 11:33

Milk for Schools to end, more students to get free brekkie

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
KickStart Breakfast provides kids with Sanitarium Weet-Bix and Anchor Milk. KickStart Breakfast provides kids with Sanitarium Weet-Bix and Anchor Milk.

Fonterra says it is taking a new approach to how it provides nutrition to communities, to better reach those most in need across New Zealand.

The Fonterra Milk for Schools programme winds up at the end of this year.

The co-op says instead, it is boosting the KickStart Breakfast programme it provides alongside partners Sanitarium and the Ministry of Social Development.

The co-op is also joining forces with NZ Food Network to redirect Milk for School product into communities through food banks, charities and other partners.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says, as a New Zealand farmer owned co-op, with employees spread right across regional New Zealand, Fonterra is part of many communities.

“We’ve taken a good look at what the country is facing into, particularly in the context of COVID-19, and asked if our current way of doing things is supporting the people who need it most.

“We can see there’s a need for us to expand our thinking and take a more holistic approach that reaches more people – which is why we’re making these changes,” says Hurrell.

There are already more than 1,000 schools in KickStart Breakfast.

Hurrell says one of the co-op’s immediate goals is to work with partners to have all decile 1 to 5 schools across the country in KickStart Breakfast - reaching another 200 schools – “where coming together over breakfast at the start of the school day really makes a difference”.

Fonterra believes it’s not just in schools where they can play a role. 

“We saw this first-hand during lockdown earlier this year, when we redirected close to one million serves of Fonterra Milk for Schools. Coming together with NZ Food Network allows us to keep doing this, Hurrell says.

He says Fonterra loved being part of the Milk for Schools programme.

“We’ve got a lot of affection for Fonterra Milk for Schools, but we have to recognise through this refresh there’s a much more efficient, environmentally focused and impactful way to get milk to more kids each day.

“It will be an end of an era and we’re proud of what Fonterra Milk for Schools has achieved - but times have changed and so will we, to ensure we’re always doing our best for those who need it the most,” says Hurrell.

More like this

Fonterra posts solid results

Fonterra has delivered a solid half-year result, thanks to higher margins and sales volumes across the co-op's diversified product and category mix.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter