LACA launches Hotober

The return to school has been challenging when it comes to providing meals at lunchtime. Some institutions are still choosing packed lunches and retailers are promoting the voucher scheme to parents. As the colder months approach, the Local Authority Catering Association (LACA) wants to help schools return to serving hot cooked meals as soon as it is practicable and safe to do so. This is why its new initiative, Hotober, has been created to encourage conversations between caterers, school representatives, on-site staff and parents to facilitate the return of hot lunches.

A LACA spokesperson said: “We have chosen the 1st October as a date when we would like schools to allow school food to be served. We recognise this is midweek but it ties in with Census Day – a very important date for all schools to see a high uptake. We know this date might not be possible for all and in reality schools may want to start the week before or the week after, but the aim of the promotion is to keep the conversation going. We have selected this date to emphasise the urgency – but of course it has to be manageable for all parties.”