CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – CAMDEN, NJ

CASE STUDY:

PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW

In 2010, Camden City School District’s meal participation had fallen to an all-time low, despite the district’s

enrollment in the Community Eligibility Program that provides free meals. District officials knew it was time for

a meal service makeover. With Aramark, the district transformed the outdated cafeteria-style dining into a food

court-style dining experience filled with delicious and nutritious options inspired by local flavors and student input.

Finding a SolutionThe evolution of the Camden City School District’s meal programs didn’t happen overnight. The district needed

to overcome its misconceptions about outsourcing and review all of the benefits of hiring a third party to

revamp its dining services.

During the review, the district discovered partnering with Aramark would actually lead to more dining variety

and high-quality, healthy food options for students. District officials were initially worried about the jobs of their

beloved dining service workers. They were relieved to learn that not only would Aramark keep the workers but

also provide new opportunities for development and career advancement.

Insights-Driven InnovationThe school district hoped by outsourcing its dining program, student participation and community satisfaction

would increase. The Aramark team hit the ground running with several new dining initiatives. By collecting

information from Camden students and parents through its own Student ViewPOINT™ survey and student/

parent focus groups, we were able to incorporate the food culture of Camden, NJ, into the district’s dining

menus. The new, revamped menu was a hit among students and parents. Aside from a new menu, we felt it was

important to update kitchen equipment, such as bay sinks, hand sinks, ovens, walk-in refrigerators and freezers,

to get the district’s foodservice crew excited about the new dining initiative.

We overhauled lunch by adding five new meal stations set up in a food court-style environment, including

Custom Bros. Grill, Green Street Deli, Tortilla Fresh Mex and Corner Crust Pizza. Not only did lunch participation

improve, but breakfast participation improved, as well.

Continuing to Innovate“Also impacting participation was the expansion of our Breakfast in the Classroom program,” said Food Service

Director Joel Hernandez. “This new program took nearly three months to deploy in each and every grade school.

Participation jumped from 42 percent to 70 percent and students got a much more nutritious meal to start their

day. Teachers also noticed they performed better in class.” Improving the quality of students’ breakfast helped

sharpen their focus throughout the school day.

Outsourcing its foodservice program left a lasting impression on the students and faculty at the Camden City

School District. “The entire dining experience for our students became delightful,” Hernandez said. Aramark

continues to work with the district to dream up new, innovative ideas to meet the changing expectations of the

upcoming generations of students. “We’re still innovating. Our next initiative is a food truck. We anticipate an

incredible student response because we’ve included the community in planning and are introducing new items

and flavors students are excited about,” Hernandez added.

Participation jumped from 42 percent to 70 percent and students got a much more nutritious meal to start their day.

“

3 BIG CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT-ARAMARK WINS

INCREASED ANNUAL DINING PROFIT AND NEW EQUIPMENTThe district’s kitchen equipment was outdated with minimal storage space to expand meal options and deliver a superior student experience. We invested in new kitchen equipment, including bay sinks, hand sinks, ovens, walk-in refrigerators and freezers.

Our partnership also prioritized the renovation of facilities needed to significantly expand the students’ dining experience. Menu monotony and slow service are no longer issues, which has increased student participation and federal reimbursements. Thanks to the expansion, the district now operates with an annual dining surplus.

• Reduced program costs • Increased program efficiency • Maximized federal reimbursements

STUDENT-DRIVEN DINING PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTSUsing feedback from our Student ViewPOINT survey, we redesigned meal options to meet student preferences and overcome menu fatigue — including five new dining concepts and new grab-and-go breakfast selections. Menu upgrades included a selection of fresh fruit and produce, grilled chicken and a wide variety of flavor profiles. In the elementary schools, Aramark launched the Cool Caf program, which makes use of visits from a cartoon mascot named Ace, who excites students about the benefits of eating healthy.

• Increased lunch participation to an all-time high of 90% • Breakfast participation increased by almost 30%

SHARING GOOD HEALTH THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The relationship-building began by aligning with community leaders and educating them on our mission and values, including the company’s plans to enrich and nourish their children’s lives. We shared our vision for retaining the dining staff, continuing to hire from within the community, and continuing to offer competitive pay and great benefits.

We gained community support through several initiatives, including an open-door policy with parents, participation in the community’s Thanksgiving Camden Harvest Fest that included providing assistance to families in need, and hosting team lunches at local bodegas to support the community. “Today, we are part of the community,” Hernandez said. “It’s not even a partnership. It’s more like family in the district. We have their support and work well together.”

For more information visit us at:K12INSIGHTS.ARAMARK.COM