Entre Ríos Province Awards Teknofood Central Role in School Meals

The government of Entre Ríos, led by Rogelio Frigerio, has replaced the long‑standing decentralized system by a fully centralized scheme in which the province will purchase and distribute food for 996 schools directly from the company Teknofood. Officials say the change is intended to guarantee uniform nutritional standards, improve public‑spending controls and relieve school staff of procurement duties. Development Human Ministry minister Verónica Berisso emphasized that “each peso destined for school cafeterias must translate into quality food.”

Lawyers and civil‑society groups have asked for detailed information on how the contract was awarded, questioning whether a public tender, a private bidding process, or a direct award was used and what legal justification supported it. The request also seeks the contract’s financial terms, quality‑control protocols and any prior evaluations of Teknofood’s commercial and financial background. Critics point to recent delays in payments to food suppliers, with debts reported between 40 and 100 million Argentine pesos, as the province moved to a sole‑source model.

The provincial administration maintains the procurement complied with existing regulations, though it has not disclosed the contract’s total amount or specific economic conditions.