Who's News in Catering for January 15. 2022

Hot Off the Presses

On Saturday, January 15, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) will begin accepting applications for more than $1 million in scholarships and grants available to individuals pursuing a secondary degree in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. NRAEF scholarships and grants seek to lighten the financial burden of secondary education and support future leaders in the industry. NRAEF scholarships range from $2,500 to $10,000 and can be used towards tuition and fees, books, room and board, as well as other school-related expenses. The scholarships have no age restrictions. All who are pursuing higher education in a restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality related field are encouraged to apply – including recent high-school graduates, military service members, adults looking to make a career change, or individuals at various education levels. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2022, and applications can be completed through the NRAEF’s online portal – ChooseRestaurants.org/Scholarships. 

CKC Good Food, a catering company specializing in meals for federal child nutrition programs, recently took occupancy of its new corporate headquarters and central commissary in the Eagandale Center Industrial Park. Located at 2919 Service Road West, the 42,540-square-foot facility underwent an extensive build out to customize the former mail house into CKC’s commercial kitchen, warehouse and cold storage space, and corporate offices. CKC Good Food currently produces more than 30,000 meals every school day – two-thirds of which are prepared in the company’s central commissary and delivered to charter schools and daycare centers throughout the metro; the remainder of the meals are prepared in clients’ onsite kitchens. The company offers about 70 different USDA-compliant lunch menus daily, which are served at nearly 170 sites across the Twin Cities metro area. 

Products on the Market

OnTerra Systems (www.OnTerraSystems.com), the developers of RouteSavvy route planning software for small businesses (www.RouteSavvy.com), today announced significant January 2022 RouteSavvy software enhancements. The new January 2022 version of RouteSavvy provides more features & functions for delivery management & makes RouteSavvy route planning software even faster & easier to use. 

Upcoming Education

The plant-forward movement is more than just a trend. According to a 2021 Datassential report, most consumers plan to increase their intake of fruits, veggies, nuts, and whole grains. Are your menus ready to help them achieve that goal? Join us at the Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit, for inspiration andideas to give your business an edge in the new year.  Join the Culinary Institute of America April 26–28, at The CIA at Copia, as top chefs and experts share strategies for implementing on-trend, globally inspired, and plant-forward dishes and techniques into your business. Learn how to infuse your menu with on-trend choices through hands-on cooking, flavor discovery, demonstrations, and tastings. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to network with peers and colleagues in beautiful downtown Napa, CA.