Kindergartens and elementary schools have the opportunity to participate in the School Program, which aims to support the consumption of milk and dairy products by pupils in school facilities. We were told more about it by Mgr. Matej Bálint, marketing manager at Milk-Agro, Ing. Peter Kočiš, head of dairy production in Sabinov, and Mgr. Petra Vnuk, managing director of Organika, s. r. o.
First, let's say what the School Program is...
Matej Bálint: It is an aid program for providing milk and dairy products for children and pupils in school facilities. The support consists of financial aid, which is refunded from EU funds and national sources, and only for approved dairy products. School facilities can thus purchase milk and dairy products for which aid is provided at a very favorable price.
Petra Vnuk: The School Program is a project of the European Union and successfully operates in most EU countries. The program also has an educational role by promoting proper eating habits. For example, if a child learns that for a snack they should not have some sweet treat washed down with a sugary drink but rather a glass of milk, it is likely to become a habit that will last even after finishing school attendance. So we can also see this School Program as part of efforts for the health of our future generation.
We are talking about this at a suitable time, as contracts are now being closed...
Matej Bálint: Yes, until the end of September 2018, elementary and kindergartens can apply for the School Program for the year 2018/2019.
Petra Vnuk: In the eastern Slovakia region, schools have the opportunity to participate with our company Organika s.r.o., which is a registered supplier of the School Program, and thus gain access to quality SABI products from our approved manufacturer Milk-Agro. Participating schools thus contribute to the philosophy of the company, which tries to support local producers.
What assortment do you offer within the school program?
Peter Kočiš: This year we will enrich the assortment with 250 g semi-skimmed milk. We will offer this NEW PRODUCT in October 2018 also to customers in our own retail network of 190 stores. It will be milk with 1.5% fat content in a cup with a double lid, which we call a drinking lid because after drinking part of the milk it can be closed again, so the milk does not spill.
