Successful School Food Service Partnership in Action
The best way to understand the value of a school food service program that is nourishing, popular and cost-effective is to see it firsthand. Take a virtual tour of a school district with a thriving Sodexo food service program.
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In Hendry County Schools, Florida, the food service program was faltering. It was managed in-house and suffered from decreasing student participation and increasing levels of food waste due to students throwing food away. School leaders decided to partner with Sodexo to develop a program that encourages participation and engagement with menus built around foods students enjoy eating.
— Carol Rivers, food service worker
Sodexo came in with something new for the kids, something different. They love it.
Students love the food quality and selection so much that participation has spiked by about 16%, an increase of about 4,000 meals per week.
Increased participation wasn’t the only benefit. Sodexo leveraged its expertise in working with school districts to create employment models that are customized to each unique situation and sensitive to concerns regarding staff placement. Through the transition process, Sodexo retained all previous school employees and created 30 new jobs.
One food service manager who had been with Hendry County Schools for 25 years said that after the partnership with Sodexo began, she noticed immediate positive changes: more employee training, tailored menus and a collaborative approach.
I would not wish to go back to doing it in-house ever again.
— Michael Yanosik, District CFO
With the success of this partnership, educators no longer need to manage a food service operation. Instead, they are free to concentrate on their core mission: providing every student with an outstanding education.
Learn more about how Sodexo can collaborate with your schools to build stronger, healthier learning communities.