The School Food Collective
Supporting Independent School Caterers in Japan
The School Food Collective
Supporting Independent School Caterers in Japan
The School Food Collective strengthens independent school caterers in Japan by providing shared standards, ethical supplier networks, and a supportive community.
JOIN THE COLLECTIVE
The School Food Collective is built on a simple belief: independent school caterers shouldn't have to work alone. When you join us, you become part of a network that shares knowledge, supplier connections, and a commitment to the highest standards in school food.
We're not looking for perfect kitchens—we're looking for committed professionals who believe children deserve fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals and are ready to work toward our shared standards together.
WHAT MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES
These standards ensure that every meal served is fresh, nutritious, and prepared with care—putting children's health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Our Shared Standards Framework
Achieve our 14 standards and display your School Food Collective certificate and member badge with pride.
Supplier Network Access
Connect with ethical suppliers who support our values. Negotiate better terms together than you could achieve alone—collective purchasing power that helps small operators compete.
Peer Support & Knowledge Sharing
Direct access to fellow independent caterers who understand your challenges. Share supplier contacts, menu ideas, solutions to common problems, and celebrate wins together.
Annual Gathering
Join us once a year to meet face-to-face, share experiences, learn from guest speakers, celebrate independent School food and strengthen our community.
Community Recognition
Be listed on our Member Schools page, showing families and communities your commitment to quality, independent school food.
WHO SHOULD JOIN
We welcome independent school food caterers in Japan who:
✓ Operate at a single school (not part of a corporate chain)
✓ Are committed to fresh food preparation from whole ingredients
✓ Want to work toward our 14 shared standards
✓ Believe community comes before corporate interests
✓ Are willing to share knowledge and support fellow members
Whether you're already meeting our standards or working toward them, if you share our values, we want you in the collective.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Review Our Standards
Read through our 14 shared standards to ensure they align with your values and goals.
Get in Touch
Email us to express your interest. We'll arrange to visit your school for a face-to-face conversation about your food program, answer your questions, and explore how the collective can support you.
Join the Community
After our conversation, if we're a good fit for each other, we'll welcome you as a member. You'll receive your certificate, member badge, and access to our supplier network and community.
Start Connecting
Begin sharing and learning with fellow independent caterers who understand your world.
MEMBERSHIP FEE
We keep costs minimal—just enough to cover administrative expenses like website hosting, annual gathering venue costs, and communication tools.
Annual membership fee: ¥20,000
This is a not-for-profit collective. Every yen goes directly into supporting our community, not into salaries or corporate overheads.
READY TO JOIN
Let's start a conversation about how the School Food Collective can support your independent catering operation.
We look forward to meeting you and seeing your kitchen in action.
The School Food Collective strengthens independent school caterers in Japan by providing shared standards, ethical supplier networks, and a supportive community.
Together, we prove that independent operators who keep their complete focus on one school can deliver what large corporate caterers cannot: meals prepared with care, served with purpose, and rooted in community.
Our Privacy Policy
© 2025 School Food Collective. A not-for-profit collective supporting independent school caterers across Japan.