School mornings don’t always go to plan.
Sometimes lunch simply doesn’t get pre-ordered in time — but that doesn’t necessarily mean a student has to go without.
With Food Village Instant Purchase, students can still buy from the available lunch options on the day, either through the Food Village app or using the self-service kiosk in school.
What is Instant Purchase?
Instant Purchase is Food Village’s same-day ordering option.
If a student misses the normal pre-order deadline, they can check what food is still available that day and place an order using either:
- Instant Purchase in the Food Village app
- the Food Village self-service kiosk in school
It gives students a simple backup when an advance order hasn’t been placed.
Instant Purchase through the app
Students can open the Food Village app and use Instant Purchase to see the items currently available in their school.
They can choose from the available options, complete their purchase through their account and collect their order in school as normal.
Availability will depend on what is left for same-day purchase, so pre-ordering is still the best way to secure a particular meal.
Instant Purchase at the school kiosk
Students can also use the self-service ordering kiosk in school.
This is especially useful where phones are not permitted during the school day, or when a student simply wants to place their same-day order directly in school.
The kiosk displays the options available for Instant Purchase, allowing the student to choose and place their order there and then.
What food is available?
Instant Purchase is based on what is available on the day.
That means the selection may be different from the full pre-order menu and popular dishes may sell out.
For the widest choice, students should still place their normal order through the Food Village app before the countdown reaches zero.
Why pre-order if Instant Purchase is available?
Pre-ordering allows students to choose from the full menu available to their school and helps ensure their preferred meal is prepared for them.
Once the pre-order countdown reaches zero, confirmed orders are sent through for preparation.
Instant Purchase then provides added flexibility for students who didn’t place an advance order.
More flexibility for students and families
For parents and guardians, Instant Purchase means a forgotten preorder doesn’t have to become a lunchtime problem.
For students, it provides two convenient ways to order on the day — through the app or at the in-school kiosk.
And for schools, it gives students greater independence without requiring school staff to manage individual lunch orders.
Pre-order when you can. Instant Purchase when you need it.
Pre-ordering through the Food Village app is still the best way to secure your preferred lunch.
But if an order gets missed, Instant Purchase through the app or the in-school kiosk gives students another way to get lunch on the day.