Few things are more routine than school schedules. First period, second period, third period, lunch period, fourth period, etc. But same-old same-old doesn\u2019t cut it when it comes to school foodservice.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s breakfast, snack time, lunch break or an after-school nutrition program, you strive to offer variety and energize students. You want to stand out from the daily rhythm, and that means you need to communicate your menu with students and parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re your customers, so you want to get them involved,\u201d says Gordon Food Service Education Segment Manager Nicole Nicoloff. \u201cAnd there are lots of ways to get the word out\u2014websites, emails, texts, phone messages, take-home flyers and word-of-mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
With so many options out there, it\u2019s easy to overwhelm the recipient, says Paula Buohl, Director of Communications at Text Ripple, an Asheville, North Carolina-based mobile marketing company. She recommends a mix of communications methods for best results.<\/p>\n
\u201cSend out a paper flyer with the weekly or monthly menu so parents can post it on the fridge at home,\u201d she says. \u201cBut also publish the same flyer on the school website in PDF form so busy parents can access it at work or students can print it out and put it on the inside of the locker door.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for electronic messages, Buohl says text messages are a great way to reach students, since research shows many of them have smartphones by the time they\u2019re first-graders. Make sure parents know about your texting program and have them sign students up to receive instant communication about daily specials or substitutions. Your text messaging also can contain a link to other foodservice or school-related information.<\/p>\n
Nicoloff and Buohl also believe in using email to reach both students and parents. An email, they point out, can also include information on food safety, snacks, healthy choices, the value of a nutritious breakfast\u2014information parents can use at home that also lets them know your program is focused on healthy dining at school and beyond,<\/p>\n
One thing to be careful of, however, is overwhelming parents and students, Buohl says. Text Ripple has a product called Mobile Builder that creates a simple landing page where information can be conveniently packaged and presented\u2014the school foodservice director then sends out a text message with a link to the site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school puts the information out there, and then sends a text alert so parents and students can come to you when they\u2019re ready,\u201d she says. \u201cYou can also send out a notice about a survey that can be taken at the site to gain insights about your food or your program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another thing texting can do, she says, is communicate your foodservice department\u2019s variety\u2014letting students and families know about special foods that may be part of a holiday celebration, a spirit week, or available at an after-school sporting event or festival.<\/p>\n
Marketing your menu is only part of the battle, Nicoloff says. Before the message goes out, schools also need to make sure they have a menu students will crave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI challenge directors to hone in on the foods you\u2019re offering on at least a quarterly basis,\u201d she says. \u201cKnow which items are the most popular\u2014this helps you keep in tune with student preferences and it reduces the number of products you have to order to build the menu.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also suggests conducting product taste tests with student panels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the students are involved, they\u2019ll know more about what\u2019s on the menu and be more willing to get it when it\u2019s served,\u201d Nicoloff says. \u201cAnd don\u2019t be afraid to test something totally crazy\u2014students and adults have completely different taste buds, so the foods and flavors they like are what needs to drive your menu.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just serving the food students like doesn\u2019t guarantee success, Nicoloff says. You can serve pizza every day and still fall short of the results you want if you\u2019re not paying attention to service points.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of students want to eat quickly and go to recess or socialize with friends,\u201d Nicoloff says. \u201cThey won\u2019t want to wait in long lines even if you\u2019re serving foods you know they love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Observe traffic flow and then let them know you\u2019re paying attention by opening up multiple lines for the popular menu items and you\u2019ll likely increase sales, Nicoloff says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the students who don\u2019t want to wait in line no matter how short it is, consider a grab-and-go cart, something you can use to encourage participation and build sales,\u201d she says.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let effective messaging move your school foodservice program to the head of the class.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112,69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-k12-education","category-running-your-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n