As the school year begins, Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) Student Nutrition is prepared to empower every student by delivering exceptional hospitality and culinary innovation across all the school districts it serves. This drive for innovation is fueled by feedback from tens of thousands of student and caregiver surveys collected last spring.
“When we say that we value engagement and community voices, we mean it,” said Barbara Flanagan, President and CEO of Aramark Student Nutrition. “Our outreach to middle and high school students, along with elementary school parents and guardians, has shaped our dining experience for the upcoming school year. Students prioritized taste, freshness, and appearance of food, while parents added healthy food options to the list.”
To address these needs, Student Nutrition has enlisted its Culinary Alliance of chefs to collaborate with its Nutrition Network, creating exciting from-scratch recipes using fresh and local ingredients. These recipes include special limited-time offers for each month of the school year, such as homemade cinnamon sugar churros with sun butter cocoa dip for breakfast, turkey barbacoa tacos, a “new-stalgic” patty melt, a permanent addition of last year’s hit high school LTO quesa-birria, and a special Rally café station Mediterranean grain bowl.
Community Involvement
This blend of community desires and national trends extends beyond Student Nutrition’s teams. Indian Hill High School in Ohio led the way with its Guest Chef program, where the Principal collaborated with food service director Peter Wynne to develop a special menu item, Italian Sausage and Peppers. This was followed by the Athletic staff’s Kickin’ Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich.
“I’ve spent over 20 years in food service,” said Wynne. “And I know one of the most essential parts of hospitality is building relationships.”
Building authentic relationships that reflect communities involves a commitment to offering diverse culinary menus. Aramark created new Chef Spotlight meals for Hispanic Heritage, Black History, Women’s, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Months for participating districts this year. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in September, Student Nutrition districts will feature authentic and tasty Arroz con Pollo, Sopita, and Picadillo Burrito meals.
“Food is a communal experience. We absolutely love getting students and the greater K-12 community involved in their dining program,” said Senior Executive Chef Laura McMann. “When we can incorporate their kitchen innovation, whether through shared guest recipes or adapting winning student chef menus, we can create a unique feel that speaks to its locale.”
Culinary Evolution
It’s not just the community that showcases culinary talent; in Texas, a piloted Culinary Camp program trains every kitchen worker in techniques and processes that promote excellence. Not everyone in the dining hall is a chef, but all staff members can enhance their skills.
“Our people continuously seek learning and new experiences,” said Terry Kirk, Vice President for Human Resources for ASN. “It is our privilege to find new ways to provide lifelong education for our staff, whether through traditional training modules or hands-on skill shops conducted with a significant helping of fun in a ‘summer camp’ setting.”
Enhancing skills and knowledge extends beyond operational teams. The Nutrition Network deployed a member survey to catalog strengths and share expertise. The current network has nearly 450 combined years of nutritional experience, with multiple additional degrees and credentials. Key knowledge areas include allergen and special diet expertise and a deep understanding of USDA regulations.
Additionally, Aramark launched Connect365, a wellness communication hub offering turnkey resources for client health and wellbeing communications. Partner school districts can access informative blogs from Aramark’s “What’s a Parent To Do” series, share parenting tips and wellness communications to support healthier living for families. This library of knowledge, inspired by insights from hundreds of chefs, dietitians, and wellness experts, can be shared in digital communications with three simple steps: copy, paste, post.
Want to see what Aramark Student Nutrition is cooking up this school year? Visit the newly redesigned website for the latest dining program innovations, informative articles, and case studies on how Student Nutrition is empowering student potential nationwide.
