As the new school year approaches, Aramark is putting student voices at the forefront with its renewed commitment to student engagement.
Aramark Student Nutrition is rolling out a revitalized platform, SN Insights 360, to gather valuable feedback from the community and create healthier, tastier options for students.
SN Insights 360 is an innovative, in-depth program that utilizes various research methodologies to uncover students' evolving needs.
Through annual surveys, in-café evaluations, action committees, and focus groups, Aramark strives to understand the preferences and desires of its student audience.
To translate this feedback into culinary excellence, Student Nutrition introduced the Nutrition Network in March 2023, bringing together the expertise of more than 60 registered dietitian nutritionists.
This collaboration enables the seamless integration of nutritional knowledge into the development of school menus.
In conjunction with their culinary teams, Aramark revamped the Culinary Alliance, consisting of 15 Aramark Chefs stationed across different regions.
The Culinary Alliance collaborates to introduce innovative, on-trend recipes that resonate with students nationwide.
Beth Ann Engelland, Vice President of Culinary and Nutrition, leads the charge of the Culinary Alliance, ensuring that the team rigorously tests new products for school settings.
Engelland and her team invite their toughest critics, the students, to sample and provide feedback on the new creations.
Among the exciting new dishes are Chipotle Cheese Nachos, Egg Roll in a Bowl, Spicy Tzatziki Beef Gyro, and Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit Tostada.
Aramark is equally dedicated to educating children about the importance of healthy eating.
Through the ACE Mascot program, specifically designed for first through third graders, Aramark leverages "kid-preferred" videos to deliver impactful content.
The ACE puppet, a vibrant fox, engages kids through games, short video clips, mindful moments, and interactive questions to instill healthy habits.
Barbara Flanagan, President, and CEO of Aramark Student Nutrition emphasized their commitment to evolving and fostering strong connections within school communities.
"We continually look for new ways to adapt, refresh, and lead the way in serving our school communities.
We believe in taking a hard look at everything we do—whether with excellence or with opportunity—and using that evaluation to build better programming and stronger relationships.
To do that, we are laser-focused on student engagement, culinary innovation, and community connection."
The commitment to students and their needs also extends to the physical dining spaces.
Student Nutrition has energized two dining concepts, CoolCaf, and LunchPad.
Developed through extensive research with students, parents, and teachers, CoolCaf captures kids' imagination and creativity.
These locations have shown increased meal participation, improved fruit and vegetable consumption, enhanced financial and operational performance, and higher student and parent satisfaction.
For middle schoolers, LunchPad offers customizable meal options crafted by chefs and dietitians, empowering them to indulge in healthy and delicious choices to suit their preferences each day.
Barbara Flanagan further emphasized the significance of SN Insights 360, stating, "It isn’t just a feedback form or a checklist task—it is a broad-based initiative built to empower future generations.
It keeps the focus on the students and their dynamic needs."
As Aramark gears up for the new school year, its commitment to engaging students, fostering culinary innovation, and strengthening the community connection remains unwavering.
With SN Insights 360 and other forward-thinking initiatives, Aramark Student Nutrition is set to provide healthier, more enjoyable experiences for students across the United States.
