A Message from Your SNA President-Elect
As SNA’s President-Elect, I salute all industry partners who support the Association’s mission and vision. The SNA Industry Advisory Council serves as the liaison to our industry membership in support of the Association’s priority issues. Our more than 55,000 members are grateful for the knowledge and skills that our industry partners bring to the K-12 school foodservice segment.

To further provide our industry partners with professional learning opportunities, SNA is proud of the SNA Industry Boot Camps that are being offered this Spring in Alexandria, Virginia. Level I – Industry Boot Camp provides more information about the school foodservice segment. In this two-day seminar, the topics that will be discussed include school meal program basics, USDA regulations, menu planning, offer versus serve, reimbursement rates, trends in school feeding procurement ethics and much more.

Level II – Food & Be verage Concent ration will focus on USDA Foods and Commodity Processing; advance procurement issues; contract management and co-ops; CN labeling, and new product development strategies . Level II – Equipment & Technology Concentration will highlight non-food procurement including school equipment and technology trends, project planning; equipment selection, procurement options; equipment replacement and much more.

Please visit SNA’s website for more information about these upcoming events.

Sincerely,
Reginald Ross
SNA President-Elect
‌
March 2020
2020 SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE
Check out promotion opportunities in the Sponsorship Brochure!
DID YOU KNOW

Participation in CEP does not eliminate the occurrence of unpaid student meal debt. 53.7% of the CEP-participating districts report unpaid student meal debt versus 86.6% of districts that do not participate in CEP. Even among districts with 100% of their schools participating in CEP, more than one-quarter (26.4%) reported the presence of unpaid student meal debt. Learn more in SNA’s 2019 Trends Report.
Important Announcements
Coronavirus Resources

SNA is actively monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and has released new member resources. We are also working with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service on protocols should the virus continue to spread throughout the United States. The Association’s upcoming conferences are still currently scheduled to take place as planned.
Annual National Conference (ANC) Sponsorships

The Annual National Conference (ANC ) provides an unparalleled opportunity for industry to showcase the latest and greatest products for the school segment. To find the right opportunity to showcase your company brand and take advantage of this remarkable opportunity, please contact SNA Business Development Manager Nita Artis at nartis@schoolnutrition.org for more information.
School Nutrition Foundation

SNA’s industry members play a vital role in the success of the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) with their ongoing support and sponsorships. If your company is looking for ways to show your support to SNA members in their education and professional growth, visit the updated SNF website and see the available opportunities. There are many ways for you and your company to get involved and help us achieve our mission of advancing school nutrition programs. Check out how your company and SNA members would benefit from your support with your tax-deductible contribution for scholarships, research and education.
School Nutrition Foundation 2020 Annual Fund

As you may already know, the Foundation provides over $100,000 annually in professional development and conference scholarships for SNA members. In 2020, SNF has raised enough in equipment grants, professional development and conference scholarships to award just over $353,000 to deserving SNA members! We cannot do this without the generous support of our industry members. We ask you to please consider donating to the Foundation. Your tax-free donations will help support scholarships, research, and professional development programs for the men and women who work in school nutrition! We look forward to seeing you in Nashville for ANC20! Please be sure to stop by the SNF booth and show your support!
School Nutrition Foundation Party With A Purpose

The School Nutrition Foundation would like to give a special shout out to the Legislative Action Conference (LAC) Party With A Purpose sponsors. At LAC, your generous sponsorships helped us raise $97,000. Thank you so much for your continued support of the Foundation, and your willingness to party with a purpose!
Our Leader sponsor:
Key Impact Sales & Systems

Our Champion sponsors:
Cool School Café
Convention Data Services
Conference Direct
GES
Heartland School Solutions
J&J Snack Foods Corp.
Los Cabos Mexican Foods
Mott’s
PepsiCo Foodservice
John Soules Foods
School Nutrition Association
Schwan’s Foodservice
SFSPAC Food Safety and Sanitation Systems
Our Supporter sponsors:
ConAgra Foodservice
JTM Food Group
Primero Edge
Ruiz Foods, please stand!

Our Friend sponsors:
Bridgford Foods
DSM Strategic Communications
GS Foods Group
ITW Food Equipment Group
Michael Foods
Big Savings! School Nutrition and ANC Program Guide Combo

Save when you advertise in both of the summer’s hottest, most viewed publications at ANC!

  • School Nutrition’s June/July Issue: Delivered to more than 55,000 school nutrition decision-makers, this ANC edition (double issue) is jam-packed with hot topics on school nutrition and features all of the conference details. It also has bonus distribution at ANC!
  • ANC Program Guide: This colorful 100+ page guide provides thousands of ANC attendees with the onsite particulars for the “Hottest Event in School Nutrition.” This is SNA’s official trade show directory and guide!

Don’t miss this great combo opportunity which comes w/ a ‘Combo Discount’!—space reservation deadline is early April. Click here to learn more and to book your space today.
Annual National Conference Reminders
Submit Your Program Description for ANC

The official ANC Program Guide includes all session and event information, as well as an in-depth buyers’ guide section. It is a valuable onsite tool and future reference guide for attendees. Submit Your Company Description for the ANC Program Guide by March 20, 2020.
 
ANC2020 Nashville Exhibit Hall Sign-up: Less than 50 Booths Available!

You don’t want to miss an opportunity to network with fellow exhibitors, demo your culinary expertise and meet influential decision-makers. ANC is “School Nutrition Event of the Year!”

If you haven’t done so already, visit the Interactive Floor Plan to see what exhibit space is still available for the upcoming 74th Annual National Conference in Nashville, Tenn., at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center on July 12–14, 2020 (2-day tradeshow).

Contact Crystal Harper-Pierre, SNA Exhibits Sales Manager at (800) 877-8822, ext. 140 or charper@schoolnutrition.org , to reserve your booth space. Crystal looks forward to hearing from you.

Certificate of Insurance

Please provide Rainprotection Insurance (official SNA vendor) your company’s Certificate of Insurance (COI). It is mandatory for all companies exhibiting at #ANC2020 to carry worker’s compensation, comprehensive general liability (including products & operations), independent contractors, personal injury and blanket contractual liability. It is strongly recommended that exhibitors carry insurance to cover loss of or damage to their exhibits or other personal property while such property is located at or is in transit to or from the convention center. You cannot obtain access of your booth until SNA receives the COI. Deadline to submit your Certificate of Insurance (COI) to SNA is May 31 .

2020 ANC New Product Showcase

Enhance your visibility at ANC by displaying your product within the New Produce Showcase. The Showcase is a one-of-a-kind display of the new products, services and equipment positioned outside of the Exhibit Hall in a high traffic area. It is a quick and effective way to introduce and promote your product to the 6,800+ ANC attendees. Slots are available on a first-come, first-served-basis. Take advantage of this tremendous opportunity and reserve your spot no later than May 31 . Don’t miss out! Visit the SNA Website for the application.

Do You Know How to Increase Your Priority Points?

Priority points are earned from June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020 and are compiled based on the following criteria.

Remember that these points will determine your scheduled appointment for exhibitor sign-up for ANC 2021 Chicago. Contact the following SNA Centers to show your support and to increase your points at (800) 877-8822:

• Meetings (exhibits/booths) at ext. 140
• Business Development (membership & sponsorship) at ext. 173
• Communications (advertising) at ext. 112
• School Nutrition Foundation (sponsorship) at ext. 131

Change in Personnel

Please notify SNA when there is a change in staff or management, so that we can update your company record. Please email meetings@schoolnutrition.org . Thank you.
Legislative & Regulatory Update
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts Speak at SNA’s #LAC2020

On Monday, March 9, #LAC2020 attendees heard from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue during a fireside chat along with SNA President Gay Anderson, SNS, and SNA CEO Patricia Montague, CAE. During the event, Secretary Perdue discussed recent proposed summer and school meal flexibilities and USDA’s response to the coronavirus. View USDA’s press release and video clips of the event.

SNA Advocates for Guidance on Coronavirus Emergency Feeding

On Thursday, March 5, SNA sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture advocating on behalf of members seeking guidance on emergency feeding procedures and additional options to safely serve their students in the event schools close due to Coronavirus. In the letter, SNA provides several suggestions for USDA’s consideration while developing a response plan including extending waiver language and program eligibility.

USDA Announces Waiver Options on Meal Service During COVID-19 Closures

USDA notified state agencies of the opportunity to request waivers related to meal service during unanticipated coronavirus-related school closures. The waivers would allow School Food Authorities (SFAs) enrolled in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) the opportunity to serve meals in a non-congregate setting at area eligible school sites.