The downfall of Libelle, one of New Zealand’s free school lunch providers, has an entirely predictable parallel to The Office. I mean, what other show could I use here, good people!
In Season 5, Scott leaves Dunder Mifflin to start his own paper company, driven by unwarranted self-confidence and a belief that he can offer better service. He quickly wins customers, but with a chaotic operational model and unsustainable pricing. The Michael Scott Paper Company collapses due to a flawed financial model, poor operations, funding shortfalls, and rising costs.
While Libelle faces a similar fate, we can only wonder what David Seymour is planning. He’s now the politician left holding the bag lunch so here’s the advice.
The clock is ticking, and communications won’t save a broken business model. It doesn’t matter how good your PR team is if the system isn’t functioning. Own the narrative and frame the company’s failure as a lesson in sustainability, not ideology. Then pivot the conversation towards smarter, long-term solutions that balance fiscal responsibility with delivering an essential service.
You can read about the story here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360608676/free-school-lunch-provider-goes-liquidation