From January 2026, Hampshire County Council will appoint Chartwells to manage school meals, reducing the price for schools, nurseries and families from £3.20 to £2.75 per meal, the council has confirmed.
Under the managed contract, the council will retain overall responsibility and oversight of the service, while Chartwells takes charge of day-to-day operations such as meal preparation and service delivery.
Chartwells is the UK’s leading caterer to schools, academies, colleges and universities, serving millions of meals each year. Its menus adhere to stringent quality standards, featuring sustainably sourced fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and 100 per cent British beef, milk, sausages and eggs certified under the Red Tractor Assurance scheme. The company also operates robust allergy management processes to ensure meals are safe and inclusive.
The provider shares the council’s commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste, and educates pupils about health, nutrition and wellbeing through its ‘Beyond The Chartwells Kitchen Education’ programme and its ‘Nudge Nudge’ campaign, which encourages healthier meal choices.
Councillor Steve Forster, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Our partnership with Chartwells enables us to offer more affordable meals at £2.75 while continuing to advance food education and sustainability in our schools. We value Chartwells’ experience and look forward to working with them from January.”
He added: “I encourage families to use free school meals where eligible. Children in Reception through Year 2 are entitled automatically, and those in Year 3 and above can qualify if their families receive certain benefits. Visit the council’s website to check eligibility for means-tested free meals.”
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Lisa Priestley, Managing Director of Chartwells Schools, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hampshire County Council to deliver value to schools, parents and pupils. By combining our scale, expertise and procedures, we will provide high-quality, safe and inclusive meals, using food education to support healthier lives.”
The move follows last year’s decision to move away from the council’s in-house service after rising food and staffing costs made it financially unsustainable, prompting many schools to seek private providers with lower operating costs. Appointing Chartwells aims to deliver better value for taxpayers, mitigate financial risk and maintain support for schools and nurseries.
The council will work with subscribed schools and nurseries to ensure they are ready to transition to Chartwells in January 2026.
