Over the past three months our industry has been in constant change. The amount of effort by our partners to pivot to meet the community needs, the exhaustive work industry has put forth to supply these shifting requirements and the constant support of SNA in communication and policy action has been extraordinary. All of this demonstrates the mutual commitment and dedication to the cause we share—school nutrition.
Now we are all coming up for air. We are setting our sights on what the business will look like in the summer, fall and beyond. There is no definitive set of tools, no “right” or “wrong” way schools will go back into session and school nutrition departments will again have to adapt to serve their customers’ needs in a completely different system.
Through the regulatory changes, we have pivoted but the new immediate normal is more challenging. Meal delivery will change for our clients, requiring the gamut of individually wrapped, thaw-n-serve and on and on. Supply of these items, packaging and line time versus other segments is increasingly scarce. Bulk items remain prevalent and most is already cued in storage and ready for delivery.
As industry professionals, we have a huge task at hand. Our mutual goal is to fill every order, on-time, in full. Collectively, we need to assist our partners in the dynamics we are all facing in supply. Each one of us needs to keep communicating the steps we can take in partnership to ensure school nutrition programs get what they need, when they need it. It’s going to take clear, honest communication, forward projections and flexibility as the demands on the system increase this summer into the fall.
Our customers and our companies are up to the challenge. This time it’s different. Redoubling our outreach and cooperation on the supply realities will help us reach our shared goal—every child receiving the nutrition they deserve!
Sincerely,
Sean Leer
SNA Industry Advisory Council Chair
