Zest System

Zest uses a cashless meal service, making our service quicker and allowing your child to enjoy a longer lunchtime. With our ‘Vertical Payment Solutions’ Point of Sale software students will only be required to press a finger on our biometrics reader or swipe their wristband to make a purchase. The wristbands come in a variety of colors and sizes, made from silicon, 100% water resistant and are available for a small set up fee of 1000yen and 500yen for replacements.

Family accounts can be set up with ease, allowing one fund to be used by multiple family members and even parents who would like a coffee, snack or just to drop in for lunch and see what their children are being served.

All account purchases will be available for viewing from home. These would detail not only the items purchased but also the times and family member who made the transaction.

Using the same parental online access, parents can set a daily spend limit, as well as notify us about allergy restrictions and other important information about their child’s diet. Our service also has the ability to block particular food items that you do not wish your child to purchase. Every item available in the cafeteria will be displayed on this online system. All of the above information will be uploaded to your account in real-time.

All student information will be automatically entered into our system before the school year commences.

Zest will make payments to this system as easy as possible, allowing parents to view, pay and top up directly online with Vertical Payment Solution secure payment system using a PayPal gateway to allow for credit card payments into your child’s account or if you prefer we will accept cash directly in the cafeteria

This service is intended to be easy and painless. If you have any problems or questions feel free to email us or log on to our website for more information on the service we intend to deliver.

Zest will continually update its system with any payments made. All students will have an overdraft facility of ¥1000 which will allow the student to continue to have a lunch with a request to top up the following day. This facility will be removed if a student refuses to reimburse his or her account.

If any account is overdrawn, an email (or phone call if preferred) will be sent the same day.

With the POS system, all transactions are recorded with date, time, server and food item. This information can be retrieved and viewed to avoid any discrepancies.

The inbuilt security allows any student who forgets his or her wristband to still purchase food, a photo identification and personal information will be available for the cashier to confirm the student’s identity.

Due to security, replacement wristbands can only be given out by a manager, before or after the busy lunchtime service.

The system will also identify any allergens or dietary requirements your child may have, which will enable a member of staff to check and inform the child to make another choice if necessary.

Setting up an account is simple. This can be done online through our website. Once you have given us your information, we will register and issue your wristband ID.

We request that the account is initially set up with a minimum of ¥5000.

If paying by bank transfer, your bank may charge for this transaction. Zest apologizes in advance for this charge, but we are unable to compensate for this. If this method is a problem, please feel free to make cash payments directly in the cafeteria.

Refunding an account is straightforward. You can email or phone us to make a request, and we will complete a bank transfer to your nominated bank.

Our cafeteria system is designed to be simple and user friendly, with staff always on hand to help with navigating the system.

Step 1 – Take a tray from the stack as you enter the cafeteria.

Step 2 – Take a drink if you do not want to have the free set drink included with your  lunch set.

Step 3 – Request the main dish food item from the service counter  (these will be served by our staff to ensure correct nutritional portions are given), then proceed to the hot vegetables, rice, soup, salad bar  and dessert buffets. Staff are always on hand to give nutritional advice or information on ingredients used in the dishes.

Step 4 – Move to the cashier where your items will be added to the system. You will then be requested to use your finger on our biometrics reader or swipe your wristband ID. If you have chosen the complete lunch set you will be given a cup to fill up with a free drink from our 100% juice, filtered cold water, tea bar.

*If you have notified us of any specific dietary requirements, our staff will be aware before payment if there are any issues with the items selected.

* Do not worry if you have forgotten your wristband ID Your cashier will ask for your surname and look you up on the system. We may ask for another piece of personal information to confirm your identify. Please do not ask for your replacement wristband during the lunch service.

Step 5 – Take your food, condiments, pick up your cutlery and find your table.

To ensure our nutritional data is consistent, portion sizes are different for each age group, with size reflected in pricing.

With the lunchtime set meal students are able to request a second helping for free as part of the lunchtime set meal. A staff member will be on hand to advise if the portion purchased is greater than Zest’s recommendation.