Meal Participation Snapshot (1)

SNACT Meal Participation Snapshot
Survey Conducted Between: October 21-28 2020
Number of responding districts: 52
Type of Operation (Self Op or Management Company)




Geographic Distribution by DRG
90% of respondents are participating in SSO /SFSP. Balance are CEP




79% report lower participation.
Breakfast Participation
Majority are experiencing decreases in breakfast participation across every grade level




Range of change in Breakfast
Districts report decreases ranging from 15 to 90% lower .




Lunch Participation
Majority are experiencing decreases in lunch participation across every grade level




Range of change in Lunch
Districts report decreases ranging from 15 to 85% lower .
Annual ​Program Financial Performance pre-Covid
Pre Covid the majority (over 70%) of programs either made money or broke even, with majority
making money. 49% percent of districts made money and 22% broke even in a typical pre-covid
year. Only 28% reported losing money in a typical year




Profits pre covid​ ranged from 12% reporting annual profits of over $100,000, 3% had profits
above 50,000, 32% showed profits in the 0- $50,000 range. Of the districts that lost money 16 %
of respondents had losses of up to $50,000 annually, and 14$% reported annual losses of
$50-100,000
Financial projections 2020-2021
86.5% of respondents anticipate their programs will lose money in 2020-21. Only 1 district
(1.9%) anticipates making money and 3 (5.8%) anticipate breaking even




Current ​Monthly​ Losses
34% of respondents are losing up to $10,000 per month, 14% are losing over $50,000 per
month
Factors contributing to losses




How losses will be covered
78% anticipate that their BoE will cover losses
Comments
To date we have done limited advertising of the free meals to allow our staff the time to get used to the
new packaging and delivery procedures which are very time consuming. In November we will increase
advertising to help bridge the gap in sales, staff is very overwhelmed by the additional time it takes to get
meals out and more lunch waves were added too which takes time away from prepping.

To date we have done limited advertising of the free meals to allow our staff the time to get used to the
new packaging and delivery procedures which are very time consuming. In November we will increase
advertising to help bridge the gap in sales, staff is very overwhelmed by the additional time it takes to get
meals out and more lunch waves were added too which takes time away from prepping.

Their is no reason for an urban district to have lower meal counts. In fact their are several compelling
reasons that support higher meal counts:

1 - meals are free to all students
2 - we can serve students 7 B & L per week vs 5 B & L per week
3 - We can serve all children between 2 & 18, not just students

Our overall meal counts are up 5% year over year this month., and continue to build each week.



We have been hybrid since early September with 33% in on M-T and 33% in TH-F. We were full remote on
Wednesdays. We have been Full Remote since October 8, we are going back to hybrid on 10/26. Our
remote meal pick-ups have been minimal at best. We are operating and paying full staff even during the
full remote periods. We have not calculated September's loss yet but we received 1/4 the
reimbursement of Sept2019

Final Outcome depends on if we remain in school or hybrid

Very hard to get students in to take meals, everyone is afraid

I am very unclear on our projections since our meal model is changing Nov. 2nd to offer (only) grab & go
meals at secondary schools, no in-school lunch at all. A very different serving opportunity that I'm afraid
will have a negative impact on participation. Although we are starting breakfast programs at those
schools that we had not been able to offer in the past.

Things are so variable with all the changes to in-school learning. Now that elementary schools are back
full time AND meals are free for everyone, we are seeing an increase in participation compared to
September. However, we still have a significant number of students out on full virtual learning, and we are
not making those numbers up in curbside pick up. We expect to lose about 40% of a la carte revenue (only
$18,000 expected from a la carte this year).

Hybrid schedule w/1/2 students in school, Wed off & schools closures impacts our sales -yet our payroll
does not change causing a huge financial loss

Hybrid schedule w/1/2 students in school, Wed off & schools closures impacts our sales -yet our payroll
does not change causing a huge financial loss
Participation down but SFSP rate is higher and will offset most of the loss.