DHL believes it could shave as much as £100 million from the government's school meals bill.

A more collaborative approach taken by government agencies could save as much as £100 million, according to parcel delivery and logistics company DHL.

The company, which operates the NHS Supply Chain and claims to have saved the health service the same amount over the past three years, believes a professionally-coordinated process for school dinners could slash budgets by one-fifth.

Roger West, head of procurement outsourcing for DHL and former procurement director for NHS Supply Chain, said collaboration on the supply side delivers "more substantial" savings than on the buying side.

"If we use the schools' food bill as an example, allowing private sector providers to compete over food supply for schools could deliver huge cost savings at a time when we are looking to reduce public sector spend," he commented.

Child poverty groups recently attacked plans by the government not to extend the provision of free school meals in England.

Posted by Laura Rathbone.

Article Added: 15/06/2010 16:05:22