Lunchtime Co
Percipient Serves Up Lunchtime Transformation
School catering firm supercharges forecasting and reporting with Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Planning (SIP).
About Lunchtime
Established in 1997, Lunchtime Co (Lunchtime) is a Cambridge-based, independent contract caterer. Specialising in nutritious, locally sourced school meals for primary and secondary schools across East Anglia and London, the company operates as a privately held firm with over 650 employees.
Taking on the entire management of the school’s catering service, Lunchtime’s ethos is centred on partnerships with schools, with a focus on bespoke menus and food education to improve school dining experiences. The delivery of fun, value-added activities helps to educate pupils about food, cooking and the joy of eating together.
An Appetite for Growth
In the wake of exponential growth, the catering specialist had outgrown its previous accounting system, Xero. With each of its 180 school contracts operating as a separate entity, the business required far more robust multi-layered accounting and consolidated reporting capabilities than the incumbent system could provide.
Frequent budget revisions and inflationary pressures resulted in significant complexity and moving parts within the finance team, making it hugely challenging and time-consuming to manage with high volumes of spreadsheets via Datarails.
To underpin long-term transformation, Lunchtime needed a modern, dynamic financial management platform capable of:
- Multi-layer accounting and consolidated reporting
- Integrated budgeting, forecasting and planning
- Real-time insights for improved cash flow
- -Greater collaboration across finance and operations
Advanced Intelligence, Real-World Scenario Planning
After evaluating both Sage 200 and Sage Intacct, Lunchtime selected Sage Intacct with Sage Intacct Planning (SIP). Impressed by the platform’s user-friendly dashboards and advanced scenario modelling capabilities, Percipient was chosen to lead the migration. This decision was based on the team’s extensive expertise, a responsive, professional approach, and a structured deployment methodology.
“Sage Intacct impressed us from the outset by demonstrating all of the capabilities we knew we needed in a finance solution,” comments Lunchtime Co’s Managing Director. “With Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Planning, we can see the latest figures from across the company, and model various scenarios, mapping budgets to actuals to understand the impact of changes or cost adjustments. In a business delivering high-quality food service at scale, the impact of this is huge.”
Percipient has brought so much value to this transformation. Working collaboratively, Percipient carefully designed templates and integrated Sage Intacct with Lunchtime’s third-party systems to ensure seamless data flow and streamlined workflows. Training ensured all users were confident in the new system, while any questions we had were handled promptly. Having a team at the end of the phone, individuals we know personally, rather than defaulting to a ticket-based support system is a breath of fresh air.
Game-Changing Reporting
The most significant benefit for Lunchtime has been transformational reporting capabilities. With Sage Intacct and SIP, the finance team can perform regular financial analysis, giving leadership and operational personnel far greater control over performance and better collaboration tools.
This level of granular, real-time insight empowers better decision-making, helping maintain financial control while upholding high customer service standards.
“Automation has also streamlined day-to-day processes, reducing reliance on emails and spreadsheets and creating a single version of the truth,” continues Lunchtime Co’s Financial Controller. “The reporting is an absolute game-changer for us as an organisation. We are inherently complex, therefore the ability to access both high-level consolidated reports and detailed granular insights gives us the visibility to manage contracts effectively and optimise profitability.”
Reduced Risk, Sustainable Growth
With improved control, more accurate forecasting and faster decision-making, Lunchtime has significantly reduced operational risk while strengthening financial performance. Auditing is now simpler and more efficient, supported by clear, structured reporting and consolidated data.
Performing in Partnership
“Percipient has brought so much value to this transformation,” the firm’s Financial Controller explains. “Working collaboratively, Percipient carefully designed templates and integrated Sage Intacct with Lunchtime’s third-party systems to ensure seamless data flow and streamlined workflows. Training ensured all users were confident in the new system, while any questions we had were handled promptly. Having a team at the end of the phone, individuals we know personally, rather than defaulting to a ticket-based support system, is a breath of fresh air.
“In a complex multi-layer organisation such as Lunchtime, having the right platform and partner is intrinsic to success. With Sage Intacct and SIP representing the foundation of our business as it scales, we can embrace growth opportunities and deliver the very highest standards, building market share in an increasingly complex sector.”
Sage Intacct for Catering & Food Service
Discover how Sage Intacct is helping finance teams gain real-time visibility, streamline reporting, and plan for sustainable growth. If you’d like to learn more about Sage Intacct, explore our work with Lunchtime Co, or discuss how we can support your organisation, get in touch with Percipient today or call us on 01606 871332.