Empower managers with CKC’s Budget Integrity Calculator

Information is a powerful tool in decision making and implementation of effective changes. CKC Good Food has found kitchen managers - some of whom do not have budgetary authority - wanted a way to project revenues and expenses, and regularly evaluate factors affecting the profitability of their food service program or service in individual buildings.

Enter CKC Good Food's crack product-development team member, Andrew Behrman. He has created a proprietary Budget Integrity Calculator that empowers kitchen managers to monitor their food service budget and regularly report progress against the budget to their administrators.

The calculator projects a program's revenues and expenses, and total profit/loss for the year after inputting school-specific variables:

• days in the school year
• grade levels served
• 40% or 60% or N/A for percent of students on free/reduced meals (to calculate appropriate reimbursement rate)
• contracted meal prices for breakfast and lunch
• price for paid meals
• participation for breakfast and lunch
• hourly wages and average hours for individual staff members
• milk, if purchased separately from contracted meal price

The calculator also consider commodities' entitlements!

This tool quickly demonstrates how increased participation can drive profitability and the importance of choosing a food service partner that provides food kids will eat, even if that vendor is pennies more than a bargain-priced vendor.

If you'd like to put this tool to use, please contact Field Operations Managers Jim Leahy or Dave Kayoum at 651.453.1136 for an introduction.