West Michigan Directors Meeting

First Hand News SNAM

West Michigan Food Service Directors Meeting 10/6/26

DeVos Convention Center

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Tracy Nelson, SNS, Assistant Food Service Director, Jenison & Hudsonville Public Schools

Food Service Directors from West Michigan assembled at the GFS food show in Grand Rapids on October 6, 2026.  They were presented with information from a few sources.

Gordon Food Service: GFS gave personnel updates.  They presented reminders regarding Gordon Ordering.  The Gordon Now App was introduced, or re-introduced.  GFS shared best practices for ordering, customer credit policy highlights, and the GFS reporting upgrade. 

Great Lakes Co-Op: GLC stated they are looking for ideas for hosting member meetings.  They will still be having a show in the Upper Peninsula.  The Great Lakes Co-Op is looking for ways to increase attendance. 

HPS: Communicated information regarding the HPS website, the meal planning program, and the Contract Analysis Tool (CAT – this is how we request new products).   Shared changes in USDA (FNS name change and moving office) and challenges in cancellations from USDA on food buys.  There is cost inflation on several key material codes.  They explained that basically, even though Food Service Programs are receiving more money per meal, the price increases on food and supplies are outpacing the increase in revenue.

West Michigan Directors – Two Presentations:

Food Service Sustainability is a company based in Georgia that has created two solutions for helping combat food waste and eliminating foam tray waste from going into the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream.  StyroGenie will bake down used Styrofoam trays into compacted blocks which are then hauled away on pallets and shipped back to GA.  A food service director in attendance stated she is currently using this, and it saves the district money on waste removal.  Another machine that StyroGenie makes is a Compost Accelerator it is designed to divert food waste away from landfills.  It takes food waste and turns it into Nitrogen feedstock for compost.  A West Michigan school district is currently using this and spoke about it.

Eat Real:

Eat Real helps school districts transform their meal programs to serve real, nourishing food to kids.  The first Eat Real Certified district in Michigan is Montague Schools.  The certification is a 2-year process.  The program is offered at no cost and is consists of 34 KPI’s.