Top 6 Opportunities for K-12

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IFPA has teamed up with Technomic to explore ways to grow the K-12 segment for the produce industry. Although this segment is expected to decline over the next few years due to population trends, increased absenteeism, and home-schooling, K-12 still presents a significant opportunity for fresh produce. Join us at the IFPA Foodservice Conference to learn more. 

Boost school meal participation by improving food quality 

With the end of pandemic-era allowances that made meals free for students, school meal participation dropped in 2023. Students of all ages say that alleviating time constraints and improving food quality are key to boosting future participation. While K-8 parents are generally satisfied with the quality of meals and snacks offered by their child's school foodservice program, high-school students report dissatisfaction, particularly with food quality. 

Snacking in K-12 has untapped potential 

Students are increasingly snacking outside of school, so schools should ensure they capture these sales, whether through after-school snack programs or a la carte and vending services. K-8 and high-school students snack at different times of the day, which has implications for which snacks in your portfolio will best fit the opportunity. 

Lower cost options 

Students need lower-cost product options or programs to keep school meals affordable. Supplier loyalty is waning as operators shop around for the lowest-cost alternatives. Ensure your product stands out by delivering attributes that are critical to their operations. 

Ready-made items 

As labor shortages continue to pressure operations, some K-12 operators are relying on speed-scratch or ready-made items. Most parents perceive the food served at their child's school to be scratch-made, indicating that serving speed-scratch and ready-made items may not compromise perceived quality. 

Pay attention to what students are saying 

Gen Z and Generation Alpha, who grew up with social media, believe their voices deserve to be heard. To maximize food waste reduction and recycling efforts, K-12 operators are paying attention to student wants and needs. 

Be part of the nutrition solution 

Meeting nutrition guidelines is a top priority for operators to improve student health and maximize reimbursements. Operators continue to struggle to balance meeting nutrition criteria with making flavorful food that students want to eat, and they expect distributors and manufacturers to step up and help find a solution.