KickStart Breakfast is one way Fonterra and Sanitarium are giving back to communities in which we operate and is part of our commitment to promoting health and nutrition through a great start to the day.

After a great response to a pilot in 30 decile one schools in 2008, Sanitarium and Fonterra partnered up to offer the programme to all decile one to four schools across New Zealand in 2009. KickStart Breakfast provides free Anchor Mega Milk and Sanitarium Weet-Bix to participating breakfast clubs at schools up to twice a week. The KickStart Breakfast Club shows children how important a balanced breakfast is for learning and energy levels and encourages them to lead healthy, active lives.

KickStart Breakfast is based around a community partnership model - Fonterra and Sanitarium provide milk and cereal, and each school community takes responsibility for preparing and delivering this to students in need each week.

We've had great feedback on the programme with teachers and principals noting that children who are nourished and well-fed perform better throughout the school day.

Through educating children about the difference eating breakfast makes to concentration and energy levels, we hope to encourage good breakfast habits that are replicated at home - rather than take over parental responsibility. For this reason we are not looking to run programmes every day.

With over 100,000 New Zealand households finding it difficult to manage budgets and family meals, partnering with KickStart we are able reach out and make a difference where it is needed most.

For more information, including criteria to register for the programme, please visit www.kickstartbreakfast.co.nz