2. Look inward
Instead of competing against peers, the food services team at Norwood City School District in Norwood, Ohio, preaches a philosophy of competing with itself. “We compete with and challenge our old ways of doing things,” says Director Roger Kipp. “It’s not uncommon to hear one of our team members say something like, ‘We used to do this, but now we do it this way, and here is why.’”
For instance, when guests were disinterested in the team’s scratch-made meatloaf, the department brainstormed how to make the menu item more appealing to students rather than giving up on the dish. One employee came up with the idea of using the recipe for meatballs rather than meatloaf. With a whole-grain bun, homemade marinara and cheese, the meatball hoagie is now one of the program’s best-sellers.