Mapping school food provision models in European cities: Operational, infrastructural, and financial insights

This study aims to provide a comparative overview of school food provision models in 17 cities across 12 European countries. It explores the operational, infrastructural, and financial dimensions of these models, identifying key trade-offs, challenges and opportunities for promoting healthy and sustainable school food environments.

Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire administered to SchoolFood4Change project partners in 2022. The questionnaire covered meal types and costs, operational and manufacturing models, and kitchen infrastructure. Supplementary desk research was conducted to clarify responses and gain a deeper understanding of the findings' context.

The analysis reveals that school food provision models are more influenced by institutional, historical, and policy contexts than by city size. Contract catering dominates, yet in-house systems persist where welfare traditions and nutrition education policies emphasise child health and learning. Centralised kitchens often reflect historical planning or socialist legacies, while mixed systems arise in decentralised governance contexts.

Organisational diversity stems from the interaction of governance structures, policy priorities, and infrastructure, illustrating how Europe's school food systems balance economic efficiency with social and educational goals for children's wellbeing. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of school food provision models in Europe.