Food Service Management of Student Fundraising Efforts Healthy Eating Bright Idea (Submitted on March 18, 2004)
What did they want to do?
Child Nutrition Services in the Vista Unified School District was able to help student groups earn greater profits by selling healthier foods. The food service program now manages vending/product contracts for student clubs and other groups in the district.
Who took action? Child Nutrition Services Program
Where did this happen? Vista Unified School District - school
Demographics
Large school district with 27,000 students enrolled
66% of students qualify for free or reduced price meals
Child Nutrition Services (CNS) wanted to be a fiscally sound operation and become the first "junk food-free" school district in the San Diego area. CNS wanted to minimize competition with student fundraising efforts but still enable student groups to raise money.
Background
High-fat and sugar-laden foods such as candy, chips and soda were being sold to students outside of the reimbursable school meal program. The Child Nutrition Services (CNS) program was trying to compete with these foods, while keeping fiscally sound. There were many vending and food/beverage contracts throughout the district that were managed by many different groups. Many groups had little experience in effectively managing contracts, purchasing products, pricing, and/or marketing.
How did they accomplish their goal? 1. The assistant superintendent of business services and the director of CNS consolidated district vending sales and began to manage the contracts from other school groups.
2. Contracts were taken over by CNS as they expired.
3. Student interviews, taste tests and market availability determined what new, healthier products were offered.
4. CNS piloted the program at Vista High School by purchasing and placing 17 vending machines on campus to serve the 3,500 students during one 33-minute lunch period. This helped feed those students who could not get through the long lunch lines.
5. The pilot school provided evidence that more funds can be generated while selling healthier options. Owning the vending machines did become expensive and required a fair amount of maintenance.
6. To make the operation even more efficient, machines are now being supplied by an independent vending company, which still allows CNS to control the types of food and beverages offered.
What were their results? Now that CNS has control over the foods sold, they offer healthier options, such as bagels and cream cheese, yogurt and granola, salads, fresh fruit, trail mix, cheese and crackers, nuts, dried fruit, lower fat ice cream bars and fruit bars. Sodas are still offered but only in about 20 percent of the vending slots compared to 66 percent previously. This resulted in a decrease in soda sales. Water and sport drinks accounted for 68 percent of the beverage sales, 100 percent juice, milk and smoothies were 20 percent, and sodas were only 12 percent.
Schools were offered a contract with CNS that included many of the perks and a commission similar to what they previously received with private vendors. The first year a pilot school program generated $200,000 more in sales than the previous year. The school received nearly $15,000 in commissions versus $9,000 under the old contract.
What are their future plans? Continue to find and offer healthy foods and beverages that students like to buy.
