News

National School Meals Week 2013, which runs November 4-8, stands to gain high-profile attention after organisers announced plans to feed schools meals to MPs in parliament and Premier League football clubs to sign up to support the service.

Plans unveiled by LACA so far include an invitation from the House of Commons to serve a school lunch to all MPs (and aides) on June 26th - straight after Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs). Those MPs who support the event will be photographed and pictures sent to all relevant local papers to generate positive public relations for the industry.

Premiership football clubs are being canvassed for their support for school meals, with current English champions Manchester United the first to sign up.

Organisers have also secured a media partner with Trinity Mirror, the second largest publisher in Europe (online, in the press and through the Primary Times magazine) which has agreed to back NSMW and the messages behind it.

Nigel Argyle of Elgyra, which has the contract to organise and promote NSMW with LACA, said: "All this will be happening four months before NSMW even takes place because this year the key aim of NSMW is very simply for caterers to encourage as many children as possible to have a meal during the week.

"To improve the chance of this happening, LACA is encouraging caterers to consider if this meal can be provided at no cost to the pupil.

"This would then make NSMW the biggest trialing exercise for school meals ever undertaken in England and Wales and highlight to all those enjoying a meal everything that is ‘great about school lunches’ – hence we have sub branded NSMW as ‘the great school lunch’."

For more details about the plans for NSMW click here to access the National School Meals Week 2013 section on the website.

We are also asking everyone to show their support for the industry by signing up as School Meals Ambassadors (http://www.nsmw.org.uk/register-your-support/) to help spread good news messages about all that is great about school lunches.

If you are a supplier to the industry and wish to be involved in the many opportunities available please contact mail@elygra.co.uk or call 01244 399900 for further information.