A few years ago, the Municipality of Borås in Sweden introduced the FOODDUCK® spread dispenser in one school as a pilot project. Following positive experiences, the solution was later expanded to additional schools. The benefits quickly became visible in everyday school dining – most notably through improved hygiene, reduced waste, and better cost control.
A new standard of hygiene at the bread station
One of the most noticeable improvements is immediately visible at the bread station.
“There is significantly less mess from bread crumbs and spread, helping the bread station remain clean, tidy, and inviting. The spread also remains hygienic and of high quality because bread crumbs no longer end up in it”, says Kennet Lundahl, Food Service Manager for the Municipality of Borås.
Compared with previous serving methods, cleanliness and hygiene have improved significantly. The change has been meaningful for both staff and diners, creating a serving area that is not only cleaner but also more inviting and efficient.
Better portion control, less waste
FOODDUCK® has also brought clear improvements in consumption control. According to Lundahl, spread waste is now almost non-existent, although exact figures have not been measured separately. While the consumption of bread toppings has remained unchanged, spread consumption has decreased considerably. This demonstrates that the solution does not reduce bread consumption – it simply encourages more appropriate use of spreads.
This reflects Foodduck’s core objective: helping food service operators achieve more consistent and controlled portioning without compromising the dining experience. As unnecessary spread consumption is reduced, savings in both food costs and waste can become visible within a relatively short period of time.
Lundahl explains that the financial benefits have been significant in Borås. At one F–6 school, serving approximately 400 students with breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks, the spread dispenser has reduced margarine costs by an estimated SEK 9,000 per year.
Positive experiences led to wider adoption
The cooperation originally began when the Municipality of Borås rented a single dispenser. It was first installed at Björkhöjdskolan, but the unit was also tested in several other municipal schools. This allowed the municipality to evaluate, with minimal investment, where the solution delivered the greatest benefits and best met the needs of each school’s bread station. The decision to expand to additional schools was ultimately driven by positive user experiences and the launch of the new FOODDUCK® mobile pro model.
Rental model enables a flexible, phased implementation without requiring major upfront investments. Schools can begin with a single dispenser and make future decisions based on real user experience. It also offers long-term flexibility, as rented devices can easily be upgraded to newer models. With technology continuously evolving, renting provides a practical alternative to purchasing equipment that may eventually become outdated.
Established part of everyday school dining
Today, the FOODDUCK® spread dispenser is valued throughout the Municipality of Borås for its hygienic design, significant reduction in food waste, and allergen-safe vegetable spread solution. These benefits make it easy to recommend the system to other schools and municipalities. The solution is now used in 15 schools across Borås, demonstrating how successfully FOODDUCK® has become part of everyday school dining.
The dispensers have been received almost entirely positively. Both staff and students find them easy to use and well suited to daily operations. The only area for improvement mentioned by Lundahl is changing the spread pouch during service, which may initially require a little practice before becoming routine for new users.
“Looking ahead, I would like to see adjustable cooling in the dispensers. It could further improve the user experience in certain operating environments”, Lundahl says.
Today, FOODDUCK® spread dispensers are in use in approximately 150 municipalities and cities across Finland and Sweden.