Many outside factors affect the operations and success of your food service program. Stay informed about the latest developments from CKC Good Food and the food service industry.
CKC Good Food News
Promoting Summer Meal Availability
Summer break is here! While it's a relief for many who work in K-12 schools, it can be unsettling for kids, especially those whose families lack consistent, nutritious food. Schools and organizations across Minnesota and the country are helping close the summer hunger gap by offering free summer meals.
Tips for a Successful Contract Bid Process
Bid season is here! If your vended meal or food service management contract expires at the end of this year, now's the time to pull together your Invitation for Bids (IFB) or Request for Proposals (RFP). Remember, unless you have had a significant change in scope to your food service program or are unhappy with your current vendor/food service management company, your current contract can be renewed for four consecutive years you need to bid your contract again.
Summer Meal Planning Begins Now
Summer break will be here soon! While it's a relief for many who work in K-12 schools, it can be unsettling for kids, especially those whose families are food insecure. Your school or organization can help close the hunger gap when school is out by either offering free summer meals or simply sharing the information on where kids can find free meals in your area (see sidebar for sharing information with others).
Cook & Hold Enhances Food Service Programs
When Farmington, Minnesota-based charter school Great Oaks Academy began working with CKC Good Food in the fall of 2023, the school had its lunches delivered hot the morning they were to be served and served cold breakfast five days a week. That's how many CKC Good Food client partners run their food service programs.
EOS Directs CKC Good Food’s Operations
In 2021, CKC Good Food embarked on a journey to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal operations, with the ultimate goal of serving our clients better. With the help of Fractional Integrator Adina Dahlin, we began implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a comprehensive business management framework outlined in "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business," by developed Gino Wickman.
Behind the Scenes at CKC Good Food on a Snow Day
We know schools weigh many factors when deciding to cancel, including whether their students will eat if school is not in session. Sometimes schools wait to see forecasts for the next day or road reports, or wait for the neighboring schools cancel. When our client sites – up to 160 locations – do cancel, it sets off a “flurry” of activity at CKC Good Food to protect the integrity of the food and to avoid food waste and unwanted charges. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the day in the life of a snow day at CKC Good Food’s central commissary:
Wise Purchasing Nets Big Utility Rebates
Building out a new kitchen or remodeling an existing facility is a major undertaking with many operational and financial considerations. CKC Good Food leaders have been in hundreds of kitchens through the years and have guided many institutions on workflow consideration, equipment purchases and overall design for the most efficient kitchen.
Tips for Planning a Well-Designed School Kitchen
Outdated school kitchens are quite common today. Aging buildings as well as new cooking processes necessitated by the changes in the federal nutritional guidelines for school nutrition programs have many food service professionals working in less than ideal conditions. School kitchens are critically under-resourced and ill-equipped to provide the best tasting, nourishing food to kids who rely on sound nutrition for strong academic outcomes.