5 things: Cost pressures force major district to raise lunch prices for coming fall

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:

 1.    Wake County Schools raises lunch prices, citing wage and labor costs

The Wake County school board in North Carolina has voted to raise the cost for a full-price lunch from $3 to $3.25 in elementary schools and from $3.25 to $3.50 cents in middle and high schools, with the increases going into effect for the 2023-24 school year. Paula De Lucca, senior director for Child Nutrition Services for the district, one of the country's largest, said they need to raise the lunch prices to help offset higher wages for cafeteria staff, higher food production costs, strict federal regulations and the loss of some federal funding.

Read more: Wake school lunch prices are going up again. Here’s how much it will cost students

 2.    University of Georgia plans new 800-seat dining commons

A new University of Georgia residence hall and multi-use dining, health and academic center has been approved by its Board of Regents in an effort to expand services for the university’s growing student body, which has seen first-year classes expand from fewer in 5,500 students in fall of 2019 to 6,250 in fall 2022. The proposal includes plans to build a 68,000 sq.ft. West Campus dining, learning and wellness center that would include an 800-seat dining commons.

Related:5 tech things: NAU Study looks at how to streamline robot delivery routes

Read more: UGA to expand with new residence hall and student center

 3.    Panera Bread franchisee opens its first unit in a hospital

Panera Bread franchisee PR Restaurants LLC/Panera Bread has opened its newest bakery-café in the lobby of the Carl J. Shapiro Clinical Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the company's first site within a hospital or medical center. The 2,000 sq.ft. BIDMC Panera Bread will be open weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 11 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Read more: PR Restaurants/Panera Bread Opens Its Newest Boston Bakery-Café at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the Carl J. Shapiro Lobby

 4.    Elior reports fiscal 2022-23 first half results

Paris-based Elior Group, whose North American unit is one of the largest foodservice contractors in the U.S., announced revenues of €2.478 billion for the first half of its 2022-23 fiscal year, ended March 31, representing organic growth of 14.1% compared with H1 2021-2022. International revenues, which include U.S. operations, came to €1.366 billion in the period, compared with €1.248 billion a year earlier, or an increase of 9.5% (15.7% organic, which includes a 3.2% positive currency impact, and a 9.4% negative scope impact due primarily to the company's closure of its Preferred Meals unit).

Related:5 things: USDA weighs chocolate milk ban in schools

Among contract wins or renewals in the second quarter in the U.S. were Woodfield Corporate Center in Chicago, Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts, School of Science and Mathematics in North Carolina, Ashland School Group in Ohio, Indiana Regional Medical Center Hospital in Pennsylvania, Redstone Presbyterian Senior Care in Pennsylvania, and the Harris County Area Agency on Aging in Texas. 

Read more: Elior Group Intensifies Its Turnaround Efforts in a Demanding Environment

 5.    Legends Hospitality lands f&b contract for new Bills stadium

Legends Hospitality has been awarded the food and beverage rights for the new Buffalo Bills stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2026. The company had already been working with the NFL franchise on the design and overseeing sales for the $1.54 billion facility, including the marketing of personal seat licenses and naming rights. Legends handles food and beverage for several major sports venues, including Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, AT&T Stadium in Dallas and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Read more: Legends wins Bills stadium food and beverage contract

Bonus: FM parent company Informa acquires Winsight, owner of National Restaurant Association Show

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]