Winter weather means warmer cycle menus
The start of a New Year means many things to many people, but one thing it means for everyone is winter weather. Depending on where you are, it may even mean bitterly cold winter storms (1). Every industry’s food services have different requirements and needs, but we all get cold. If your food service management hasn’t already adjusted your menus to include piping hot drinks, warm soups, and other wintertime comfort foods, now is the time to be ready for any more big storms and cold spikes next month.
K-12 schools should keep an eye on this program
Free school lunch programs have become increasingly common over the past few years, as state governments like Michigan and Minnesota have expanded programs providing free meals for children. Less discussed is the federal-level Community Eligibility Provision program that provides students with free meals, which saw a 20% uptick in participating school districts in 2024 due to a reduction in the percentage of low-income students required in a district for participation. With a new president and new head of the FDA headed into office later this month, participating school districts may want to begin planning for further program adjustments to ensure their kids stay well-fed and healthy (2).
All institutional food service teams should start planning for 2026
The start of February will mark a little under one year to go for the implementation of the FDA’s new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) food traceability rules (3). Starting on January 20th, 2026, restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service providers will have to reckon with new requirements on tracking food from its point of origin, storing food to prevent spoilage or cross-contamination, providing updated ingredient and allergen information for customers, and more. If food service management organizations haven’t invested in a food technology system to help them keep track of this information to meet compliance, they need to start making plans now.
Economy update: labor woes persist, waiting for the new administration
Food service organizations continue to struggle with labor shortages, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reporting that food service workers were among the most likely to quit for other jobs in the past year (4). Organizations can mitigate this trend by improving wages and benefits or investing in technology and processes that automate tedious tasks and improve the experience for existing workers.
In terms of the broader economy, inflation continues to decrease gradually, as do interest rates (5). While organizations may be tempted to wait for rates to shrink more before making any major investments, the incoming administration has promised significant action on tariffs and mass deportations, which could disrupt supply chains and impact the prices of durable goods (like new kitchen appliances). Common imported ingredients like coffee, avocados, shrimp, bananas, and more could see significant price hikes from tariffs (6), while increased deportations could result in a lack of workers to harvest domestic crops (7).
It remains to be seen how far the incoming administration will go to fulfill these promises, but prudent organizations would invest in procurement systems to help anticipate and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions, identify opportunities to reduce food waste, and find better deals on ingredients.
Let us help you prepare for the future
Culinary Digital has decades of experience providing food service technology across healthcare, K-12, colleges and universities, and more. Our customizable tools can automate tasks, avoid supply chain issues, and enable compliance – all while reducing costs, boosting profits, and delighting customers. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can prepare your organization for the future of food service management.
1. https://www.newsnationnow.com/weather/major-winter-storm-blizzard-warnings
2. https://www.foodservicedirector.com/k-12-schools/cep-participation-continues-to-rise
3. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-requirements-additional-traceability-records-certain-foods
4. https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage-the-most-impacted-industries
5. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-officials-signal-more-gradual-approach-to-lowering-rates-as-2025-begins-155046040.html
6. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-inflation-grocery-store-food-prices/
7. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/mass-deportation
