5 things: Sodexo North America sees 22.6% organic growth in Q3

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

Sodexo reported third quarter results for fiscal 2022 that showed a 22.6% organic increase in revenues in its North American unit, led by a 50.9% increase in the Business & Administrations (basically, B&I and sports/leisure operations), leading to North America being back up at 91% of its pre-COVID level, compared to 85% in the previous quarter. The company attributed the growth to a strong recovery in Universities and Sports & Leisure activity, and continued progress in the return to the office in Corporate Services. The company also announced that it plans to transfer full P&L accountability to tto three geographic zones: North America, Europe and the Rest of the World.

Read more: Sodexo Q3 Fiscal 2022 better than expected Revenue growth: 23.2%

In the wake of the recent passage of the Keep Kids Fed Act, the Biden Administration has announced that the USDA will provide nearly $1 billion in additional funding to schools to support the purchase of American-grown foods for their meal programs. The $943 million boost from the department is provided through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, with funds distributed by state agencies to schools across the country. It builds on the $1 billion in Supply Chain Assistance funds USDA previously allocated last December, which states can use this school year as well as next to provide schools with funding for commodity purchases.

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Read more: Biden Administration Takes Additional Steps to Strengthen Child Nutrition Programs

Beginning this fall high schools in California can’t start before 8:30 a.m. and middle schools can’t start before 8 a.m. as a 2019 law forbidding earlier start times kicks in. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends eight–10 hours of sleep per night for 13- to 18-year-olds, but the average start time for the nation’s high schools was 8 a.m. in 2017-18, with about 42% starting before then, including 10% that began classes before 7:30 a.m., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. How the new requirement will affect school breakfast schedules is yet to be determined.

Related:5 things: Will a recession weaken the work-from-home trend?

Read more: California late start law aims to make school less of a yawn

Dartmouth College has opened its Class of 1953 Commons for late-night dining for the summer, marking only the second summer in which the venue has been open past 8:30 p.m. and something ’53 Commons General Manager Brandon Crosby says the college plans to keep for future summers. However, the Courtyard Cafe, which offers both daytime and late-night dining during the academic year, will remain fully closed throughout the summer, along with all but one residential snack bars, reportedly due to staffing issues.

Read more: Class of 1953 Commons reopens late-night dining for summer term

A major fire at a camp dining hall in the dining hall at the Camp Airy for Boys in Maryland resulted in what was deemed a total loss with an estimated $2 million in damages, the Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office said. No camp staff or campers were near the fire when it occurred, police said, and no injuries have been reported.

Read more: Camp Airy Dining Hall Fire Deemed Total Loss, Estimated $2M Damage

Bonus: Food hall is a world-class dining amenity for Northern Virginia office complex

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]