With school budgets under increasing pressure, financial awareness has never been more important. We are using Financial Awareness Day (14th August) as a timely reminder for schools to take a closer look at where efficiencies can be made, without compromising on quality or service.
One key area where real savings and long-term value can be achieved is in catering operations. Here are some practical ways schools can optimise their catering provision to become more financially resilient:
Use benchmarking to understand your catering costs
- Gain a clear view of how your catering costs compare to national and regional standards.
- Identify areas where your school may be overspending – or underinvesting – and make informed decisions backed by data.
- Benchmarking can also highlight inefficiencies in portion sizes, staffing ratios, or food waste.
Work with independent consultants to align on financial and service goals
- A consultancy like Litmus provides impartial expertise to ensure you’re partnering with the right caterer or managing your in-house offer effectively.
- We help schools set realistic financial goals alongside service standards – balancing cost control with pupil satisfaction and nutrition quality.
- Our advice is independent, ensuring recommendations are always in the best interest of the school.
Monitor contractor performance to ensure promised value is delivered
- Don’t set it and forget it: regular contract reviews and performance checks are vital.
- Ongoing monitoring ensures your caterer continues to deliver on cost, quality, and compliance, while adapting to any changes in school requirements.
- Once a contract is in place, Litmus supports schools with structured review processes and performance checks.
Leverage procurement platforms like Litmus Edge to unlock savings
- Litmus Edge – our specialist in-house food procurement and catering management system – gives schools access to a curated network of specialist suppliers, including local and ethical producers.
- Schools using Litmus Edge have seen procurement costs reduced by up to 20%, thanks to group buying power and streamlined supplier management.
- This also reduces administration time, freeing schools up to focus on strategic priorities.
We’ve worked with hundreds of state and independent schools to help them achieve their financial goals, without compromising on the quality of their catering. Marlborough College partnered with us to modernise and future-proof their in-house catering department. The results delivered tangible results including:
- Significant food cost savings.
- A 20% reduction in the number of suppliers – all key local suppliers were retained, reinforcing the College’s commitment to supporting the local community and sustainability.
- Enhanced menus with new products and produce, boosting pupil satisfaction.
- The implementation of a fully funded procure-to-pay system – integrating purchasing and accounts payable.
- Streamlining processes via a shift to digital data management – eliminating thousands of paper transactions and automating internal transfers and consumption tracking, saving hundreds of staff hours annually.
Financial Awareness Day is an ideal time for schools to review how well their catering provision supports long-term financial sustainability. Whether you’re managing catering in-house or working with a provider, small changes can lead to significant results.
To find out how we can help your school build a more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective catering model, contact us here.
The Litmus team