Canteen Proposal

Need/Desire for a canteen

In order to determine the desire for a canteen, a number of opinions have been
sort and a survey of the parent community has also been undertaken. The
survey received 188 respondents out of a parent community of 400. Although
there has not been any negative comments about the lack of a canteen by the
parent community to the school, the students have noted to the school council
they would like a canteen and the survey results were generally very supportive
of having a canteen operate at least part of the week. The survey results are
included as Attachment 4.
Structures
If the school was to operate a canteen there are three main ways to structure the
canteen:
1. Volunteers only (School or P&C operated). This option has not been assessed
as part of this proposal. As a large portion of the school has working parents
(as evidenced by OOSH usage) who would be unable to volunteer. Past
experience as well as other research (such as Birchgrove experience and
information available from Healthy Kids Association) also suggests that this
option may be difficult to operate successfully
2. Volunteers with Paid Canteen Manager (School or P&C operated)
Pros
Quality control
Control over menu
Someone responsible for day to
day operation
Not relying solely on volunteers
If canteen makes profit, goes to
school
Volunteers are only needed to
prepare and distribute food, not
for all the administrative work as
well

The next steps for this option are:

Develop Canteen Policy
Determine hours of operation
Develop menu

Cons
Lead time to develop policy and
procedures
Need to ensure canteen makes
enough money to cover a wage
Still quite reliant on volunteers
Need to educate people about the
need for volunteers even though have
a paid employee
Food wastage issues if only open 2
days
Set up costs (utensils, containers etc)
Financial risk if makes a loss
Management of an employee sick
and annual leave cover, replacement
and potential gaps in service if
manager leaves.

Develop procedures (ordering, timelines, portion controls, volunteers)

Determine financial record keeping methods
Marketing considerations
Employ Manager (job description, advertise,interview)

3. Licensee
This would transfer the risk of operating the canteen to the operator of the
canteen. They would pay rent or a license fee to the School. As the school
owns the property, any contract with a third party needs to be via the school,
not P&C and therefore we would need to go through the tender process for this
option.
In investigating this option we contacted The School Canteen as they provide a
canteen service to nine other inner west schools. They currently operate from
Kegworth, Ashbury and Dobroyd Public Schools (ie pay rent) and deliver and
distribute for the other six.
Pros
No financial reporting burden on
P&C
No financial risk (ie if canteen
makes a loss)
Known source of income (from
rent)
Still have some control over
menu
Dont need to organise
volunteers
Principal maintains control over
all aspects of the licence
agreement
Able to choose an applicant
experienced in operating
canteens or a food business

Cons
Paperwork
Time frame for approval from Dept of
Education (8+ weeks)
Potential to lose out on profit if turns
out to be successful
Potentially wont be accepted into the
school community

The next steps for this option are:

Request Education Department Schools Finance approval for tender
process
Prepare Canteen Licence Agreement and Package for prospective
applicants (can charge an application fee)
Advertise
Assessment of applications
Send successful applicant details to Schools Finance for approval
Sign Canteen Licence Agreement

Issues to be considered in selecting a structure

Issues Raised
There were a number of issues raised in the canteen survey, the P&C and School
Council. Each of these can be mitigated by either structure chosen to operate
the canteen.
Issue
Canteen available for fundraising
activities eg sushi days once a
week/fortnight/month
Children having money at school

Children late for class/lining up

all of their break time
Creation of excess of rubbish

Mitigant
85.5% of survey respondents indicated they
would use a canteen between 1-5 times
week. So a 2 day per week canteen would
allow for other activities still to occur
Limit orders to on-line or bag orders only ie
children will not be able to purchase food
over the counter
As above
The School Canteen only use biodegradable
and recyclable packaging. This will be a nonnegotiable requirement for all applicants as
part of the tender process.
The same packaging would be sourced for
Canteen Manager Option, however would
increase costs substantially.
*See below for discussion on rubbish

*Rubbish
The school uses Remondis for the removal of rubbish. The school has a
general waste and mixed recycling bins.
As lunch is eaten predominantly in the classroom a small mixed recycling
bin would need to be available in each room. A small number of larger
recycling bins would also be placed in the playground.
The Green Team could be enlisted to help spread the message regarding
the correct usage of the bins.
Canteen Committee will need to engage further expertise and advice from
Remondis in relation to costs and optimal collection solutions.
As a result we believe a two day a week canteen providing lunch and
recess orders with on-line ordering would be the best way to proceed.
Financial considerations
On the basis of a two day a week canteen option, the following sets out as
estimate of the financial impact of each structure.
Volunteers with Paid Canteen Manager (School or P&C operated)

The cost of employing a canteen manager on a permanent part-time basis

two and a half days per week is approximately $20,000 including all
associated on-costs.

Attachment A provides a very high level analysis of the levels of orders

required to breakeven as well as some sensitivity analysis over a number
of different order levels over 40 weeks of operating. The table below
summarises the results of this analysis.

The analysis shows to breakeven the canteen would need to receive 120
lunch and 52 recess orders over the two days per week at an average cost
of $6 per lunch order and $3 per recess order. Attachment 3 includes the
Term 4, 2013 menu and pricing from The School Canteen which supports
these average assumptions. These prices were also the averages
indicated by parents in the canteen survey. In terms of number of orders
the previous canteen operator, Cafe Rozella, was receiving an average of
60 orders on a Thursday and 120 orders on a Friday, so it is not
unreasonable to achieve these levels.
On predicted levels the canteen could make a small surplus of $13.5k,
however if levels are lower there is little ability to offset the income
shortfall and thus the P&C would need to underwrite the canteen for any
potential loss being no more than $20k.
Licensee
The School Canteen currently pays rent of $1,100 per quarter to Dobroyd Point
Public School which has approximately 300 children for a five day a week
canteen. The pro-rata fee for a two day a week operation would be $1760 per
year, which could assist in covering the cost of any additional waste and
recycling costs and/or on-line ordering set up and administration costs.

On-line ordering
On-line ordering allows parents/carers to submit orders at any time up to 8:30am
on the day of the orders being placed with most providers.
There will be costs to parents of operating an on-line ordering system. Two
providers of on-line ordering systems have been contacted in regards to
provision of on-line ordering Schools 24 and Flexischools. The flexi-school
model keeps the monies in trust but as a result charges the school a 3%
transaction fee, while School 24 appears to potentially involve more

administration on the part of the school in administering funds but no on-going

transaction fees are charged. The table below sets out the charges that have
been advised by each provider.

Under a licensee arrangement it is likely that the tenderer will have a preferred
online supplier that integrates with their other operations.
Recommendation
From the discussion at the P&C in November there does not appear to be an
appetite to take risk in operating a canteen. However there is clearly a portion of
the school community who is interested in having a canteen. We also
acknowledge that any structure entered into will create more work both in
administering and managing a canteen and it associated issues for all of the
staff.
After consideration of the issues raised and discussions both at the P&C and
School Council, the following proposal is put forward for consideration of the P&C
and the School in regards to the operation of a canteen at Rozelle Public School.
The canteen should be:

Open 2 days per week

Online ordering with a solution for the 30 families without internet access
TBD
Recess and lunch orders only
A trial may not be possible as a provider may not want to invest the time
and money associated in building the profile of the canteen only to have
to withdraw or be subject to a full tender. Therefore a one year contract
with option to extend may be a better option with operation commencing
in Term 2, 2014.

Actions arising from recommendation

Discuss proposal with school

Have The School Canteen present at February 2014 P&C meeting so that
everyone can obtain an understanding of what they can provide

If the school consents to move forward

Ask for volunteers to help with preparation of tender documentation and

sit on tender assessment panel;
Start the tender process.

Attachment 1

Canteen manager assumed to be permanent part-time and will be paid all

year all on-costs have been included superannuation, workers
compensation, annual leave and long service leave.
Assumes all other labour required are school community volunteers

Attachment 2

Attachment 3
The School Canteen Term 4 2013 Menu and Pricing

PASTA
Traditional Italian pasta at its best
Plain Pasta
(Gluten Free Option Available*)
Napolitana
(Gluten Free Option Available*)
Bolognese
(Gluten Free Option Available*)
Creamy Pasta
(Gluten Free Option Available*)
Beef Lasagna

$3.30
$4.00
$4.50
$4.50
$5.50

* Gluten Free Pasta $1.00 extra

PIZZA
Pizza bases made from scratch using fresh ingredients topped with house made tomato sauce, your
choice of topping and mozzarella cheese that melts in your mouth
Choose from Margherita, Ham, Mushroom or Ham & Pineapple
$4.00
VEGETERIAN
Vegetarian Lasagna
Vegetarian Wrap (Fresh veggie pattie with lettuce and mayo on a tortilla bread)
Sushi Teriyaki Tofu & Cucumber rolls

$5.50
$4.50
$4.40

SUSHI
Sushi Nori rolls made to order daily
Chicken Teriyaki, Cooked Tuna, Avocado or Cucumber

$3.80

LUNCHTIME FAVOURITES
Homemade Sausage Rolls with tomato sauce (2 to a serve)
Chicken Strip Wrap with lettuce and mayo
Crumbed fresh Chicken tenderloins (2 to a serve)

$4.00
$4.80
$4.00

SANDWICHES
Made with fresh ingredients to order on your choice of wholemeal or white bread we do not use butter
unless requested (gluten free bread available for $1.00 extra)
Vegemite or Jam
$2.20
Cheese
$2.50
Chicken, Ham or tuna
$3.50
Salad Sandwich
$4.00
Egg Sandwich
$3.50
Extras; Cheese, Mayo, Lettuce, tomato, bread roll, tortilla bread, toasting
$0.50

SALADS
Garden Salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber and grated carrot)
Add Shredded Chicken Breast, Tuna or a fresh hard boiled egg to your salad for
$1.00 extra

$2.50
$1.00

SNACKS
Popcorn
Cheese & spinach tortilla
Cheese Tortilla
Garlic Tortilla
Snack Pack- fresh carrot and cucumber sticks served with crackers and cheese
Banana
Fresh Mixed Berry Yoghurt Cup

$1.00
$2.50
$2.00
$1.50
$2.50
$1.50
$1.50

DESSERT
Apple Slinky
Seasonal Fresh Fruit per piece
Frozen Grape Cup
Fruit Salad
Biscuit of the day (2 to a serve)
Muffin of the day
Strawberry jelly cup
Chocolate Pot (low fat house made chocolate custard)
Smooze Frozen Ice Treat (Mango, Pink Guava, Pineapple or plain coconut)
Gelato freshly made gelato assorted flavours each week.
Flavours include Vanilla Lemon, Milo and Caramel
Juicies 100% fruit juice frozen available in Apple , apple and blackcurrant or
Tropical Flavour

$0.50
$0.80
$1.00
$3.50
$1.00
$1.50
$1.50
$2.00
$1.50
$2.00
$1.50

DRINKS
Water (300ml)
Plain Milk (250ml)
Flavored Milk (250ml) Low fat milk mixed with fresh house made Chocolate or
Strawberry flavour
Nudie 100% Kids Fruit Juice (250ml) Orange, Apple, Real Lemonade or Tropical

$1.00
$1.00
$2.00
$2.50

If you have any queries regarding our menu, special dietary needs or would like to
suggest an addition to our menu please contact us on
0416 786 603 or email: orders@theschoolcanteen.com.au
Thank you and we look forward to being of service to your family.
www.theschoolcanteen.com.au

Attachment 4

Canteen Survey Data Summary

Number of respondents 188

Number of
children at
school in 2014
0
1
2
3

Respons
e
Percent
0.5
53.2
42.6
3.7

Response
Count
1
100
80
7
188

Breakdown of what year the respondents children would be in for 2014

Yea
r
P
K
1
2
3
4
5
6

Coun
t
6
52
55
52
34
34
20
24

% of
total
2.17
18.77
19.86
18.77
12.27
12.27
7.22
8.66

% of total
by stage

59.57
24.55
15.88

67% used the canteen before, mostly for lunch (97.5% of respondents) and
recess (63.9% of respondents)
33% had not used canteen before. Most of these indicated it was because it was
their first year at the school this year, and the canteen had not been available.
Reasons for ordering in the past
Answer Options

Response
Percent

Response
Count

76.2%
83.6%
68.0%
18.0%

93
102
83
22

4.1%

answered question

122

Treat for child

Convenience
Break for parent
Nutritional Variety
Other (please
explain)

Frequency of use in the past

82.7% respondents used the canteen at least once a week or more often.
Answer Options
4-5 days/week
2-3 days/week
1 day/week
Fortnightly
about once a
month

Respons
e
Percent
5.7%
25.4%
51.6%
11.5%
4.1%

Respons
e Count
7
31
63
14
5

1.6%
about once a term
0.0%
less frequently
answered question

2
0
122

What is important to you when ordering?

People are prepared to pay more for high quality, nutritional food.
What is important to you when ordering from a canteen? Rank the following attributes from most important to least important.

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

How often would you use the canteen?

85.9% of respondents would use the canteen at least once or more often per
week.
Response
Percent

Answer Options

Response
Count

6.9%
4-5 days per week
31.2%
2-3 days per week
47.4%
1 day per week
9.2%
fortnightly
3.5%
once a month
1.2%
once a term
0.0%
less often
0.6%
Never
answered question

12
54
82
16
6
2
0
1
173

How important is having a canteen?

Answer
Options

Very
import
ant

Import
ant

Somew
hat
importa
nt

Not at all
important

57

60

44

13

How important
is having a
canteen

Price Expectations
Avera

Maximu

Minimu

Media

Lunch
Recess

ge
6
3.23

m
12
10

m
3
1

n
5
3

Canteen Opening Expectations

The majority of people dont expect the canteen to be open every day.
Answer Options

Response
Percent

a. 1-2 days per

22.4%
week
b. 3-4 days per
46.0%
week
31.6%
c. 5 days per week
answered question

Respons
e Count
39
80
55
174

Ordering Preference
Answer Options

Response
Percent

a. Online in
47.1%
advance
b. Online on the
29.3%
day
23.6%
c. In Person
answered question

Respons
e Count
82
51
41
174

Other Comments
Responses were broadly catergorised as follows:
Category
Community
Dont want one
Food/Menu
Frequency
Packaging
Payment
P&C
Quality
Size of school
Structure of canteen
Willing to volunteer
Grand Total

Tot
al
17
3
40
1
1
4
2
1
4
6
8
87

I would expect that a school the size of Rozelle Public should have a canteen.
It is an important aspect of the school community to have a canteen - supports
parents and is fun for the kids

We really miss the school canteen - it provided a break from the monotony. I
dont mind paying more money than previously so that it is financially viable.
Would support if canteen re opened and purchase once a week
I would rather have a canteen that operates less days per week that has quality
of food and menu diversity as opposed to one that operates all week with lesser
quality food.
Having a canteen is worthwhile but difficult unless it is professionally run (ie not
relying on volunteers)
I think it's really important that there be no soft drink or other really sugar
heavy food and drink options.
the canteen is a great addition to the school and makes the life of working
parents so much easier, we appreciate the efforts and the people
working/volunteering behind the scenes! Thank you!
Also, the school is not well prepared to deal with the rubbish and need for
recycling the canteen generates. I would think that needs to be addressed
before the canteen operates again - it is crazy for all the cardboard boxes that
hamburgers were sold in, were then thrown in the bin along with milk cartons,
etc.