SINGAPORE — As part of a broader shift in school meal services, a new central kitchen model is being introduced at selected Singapore schools to address challenges in securing traditional canteen operators and to standardise food quality.

At Wilmar’s central kitchen facility, staff were observed preparing and packing bento-style meals for distribution to schools, reflecting the government’s push to centralise food production while maintaining nutrition standards and operational efficiency. 

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has expanded the central kitchen model from its pilot phase in 2022 to 13 schools starting January 2026. The initiative aims to tackle persistent shortages of canteen stall operators and ensure students continue to receive affordable, healthy meals throughout the school day. 

Under this model, contracted caterers including Wilmar, Chang Cheng Holdings and Gourmetz will prepare meals in central facilities and supply them to participating schools. Meals are then distributed via in-school service points, with some incorporating digital systems for pre-ordering and collection. 

Education authorities say that the new approach will help reduce waiting times during lunch, streamline food safety practices, and offer a more consistent dining experience across schools. However, the Education Ministry has noted teething issues in some early implementations, including technical glitches affecting meal ordering and distribution, which are being addressed collaboratively with schools and vendors. 

MOE emphasises that the central kitchen model is optional and will be considered for additional schools only where traditional canteen vendor recruitment remains challenging. The individual stallholder system will remain the default model for most schools.