Healthy School Food Collaborative

What Healthy School Food Collaborative does

Healthy School Food Collaborative (HSFC) is a New Orleans-based, private for-profit consulting and management services firm that supports schools and community organizations in establishing, operating, and maintaining compliant federal child nutrition programs. Founded in 2010 (with website material referencing 2015 as an alternate founding reference) and led by Executive Director James Graham, the firm serves charter schools, non-public schools, school districts, childcare and daycare centers, universities, corporate offices, and community organizations across 17 states plus Washington DC. HSFC does not provide food directly; instead it acts as an administrative liaison between schools and food vendors, distributors, suppliers, and Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs), delivering procurement economies of scale and regulatory expertise on the client's behalf.

The company's service platform spans School Consulting Services, School Food Authority (SFA) Formation, Administrative Review support, NSLP/SBP/CACFP/SFSP compliance management, Menu Planning, Culinary R&D Consulting, At-Risk Afterschool Meals, Summer Feeding Service, School-Based Medicaid Program consulting, Facilities Management, Procurement and RFP Management, Logistic Solutions and Delivery, and Grant Writing. The team of 1–10 employees includes licensed nutritionists, registered dietitians, certified occupational safety specialists (COSS), DOE-certified school food service managers, and a Data Specialist and Information Officer — a credentialed professional mix tailored to the regulatory complexity of US child nutrition programs. There is no proprietary technology product; the firm's core 'technology' is codified regulatory know-how and a network of institutional partnerships.

HSFC operates a sales-led, event-driven go-to-market model, generating leads through direct outreach, website inquiries, free consultations, referrals from industry partners (including the School Nutrition Association, National CACFP Association, ASBO International, and seven state-level charter school associations), and active conference participation (National Charter School Alliance Conference, National Child Nutrition Conference, YMCA Conference, and state-level charter school conferences). Revenue is generated via customized, quote-based professional service fees tied to scope of engagement, with multi-year contracts and a one-time Information Technology set-up and implementation fee for Point-of-Service (POS) system establishment. No revenue, funding, or ownership data is publicly disclosed.

Name

Healthy School Food Collaborative

Legal name

The Healthy School Food Collaborative

Website

https://thehealthyschoolfoodcollaborative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Healthy School Food Collaborative is a New Orleans-based consulting firm that helps schools and community organizations across 17 states establish, manage, and maintain compliant federal child nutrition programs such as NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and Summer Feeding, acting as an administrative liaison between clients and food vendors without supplying food directly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School Food Service Consulting

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (72231), Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Program Compliance & Administration (NSLP/SBP, Reimbursements) (EDAEAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Menu Planning, Nutrition & Dietary Accommodation Services (Allergens, Special Diets) (EDAEAEAD), Food Services Administration (Meal Eligibility, POS, Nutrition Compliance) (EDAJAHAJ), Food Procurement, Inventory & Supply Chain for Schools (EDAEAEAE)

Keywords

• School food consulting
• Child nutrition programs
• Food program management
• USDA compliance services
• Menu planning consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Food Program Consulting Services: HSFC provides consulting and management services to schools and community organizations for food programs. Fees are determined based on the scope of service requested, with pricing customized to each organization's needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HSFC provides consulting and management services for school and community food programs, including regulatory compliance for NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and Summer Food Service Programs; menu planning; procurement and RFP management; vendor liaison; School Food Authority formation; grant writing; and School-Based Medicaid Program support. The firm does not provide food directly but acts as an administration liaison connecting schools with food vendors, distributors, and suppliers across 17 U.S. states plus Washington DC.

Product overview

Healthy School Food Collaborative (HSFC) is a food service operations consulting and management organization offering a comprehensive suite of services to schools and community organizations. The portfolio includes School Consulting Services, Facilities Management, School-Based Medicaid Program, Administrative Review, At-Risk Afterschool Meals, Child Care & Daycare Consulting, Culinary Research & Development Consulting, Menu Planning Consulting, Summer Feeding Service, Food Program Management, School Food Authority Formation, Grant Writing Services, Procurement and RFP Management, Logistic Solutions and Delivery, Child and Adult Food Programs (CACFP), Nutrition Consulting Services, and NSLP Consulting. HSFC operates as a unified consulting platform where these services work together to help schools and community organizations establish, manage, and maintain nutritious meal programs while ensuring regulatory compliance. The company does not provide food directly but acts as a food operation administration liaison connecting schools with distributors, suppliers, and vendors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School Consulting Services Nutrition consulting and food service solutions for schools, helping establish child nutrition programs including implementation, distribution, and administrative functions. For schools, charter schools, non-public schools, and school districts.
• Facilities Management Facility management consulting for schools, businesses, corporate offices, and university campuses to improve operational efficiency and food service delivery, including preventative kitchen maintenance.
• School-Based Medicaid Program Consulting services to help schools secure Medicaid funding and support student wellness, including assistance with applications, implementation, and ongoing program support.
• Administrative Review Administrative oversight and reporting support to help schools comply with regulatory requirements for food service programs including NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and Summer Food Programs.
• At-Risk Afterschool Meals Support for At-Risk Afterschool Meals Food Programs providing nutritious meals to children and adults through CACFP, including sponsor review preparation and compliance management.
• Child Care & Daycare Consulting Comprehensive child nutrition consulting for childcare and daycare centers including menu planning, procurement, compliance, and wellness program development.
• Culinary Research & Development Consulting Expert assistance in developing innovative menus and recipes that are nutritious, kid-friendly, and cost-effective, including menu design, product development, and kitchen efficiency improvements.
• Menu Planning Consulting Professional menu planning services to create balanced menus meeting dietary needs of students while being appealing and within budget constraints.
• Summer Feeding Service Support for implementing and managing summer food service programs so food is accessible when school is out, including program implementation, food procurement, and reimbursement claims.
• Summer Food Programs Services helping schools and community organizations operate summer food programs in compliance with USDA guidelines.
• School Food Authority Formation Assistance for schools wanting to participate in NSLP and CACFP to become their own School Food Authority, including application preparation and management support.
• Grant Writing Services Nutrition consulting and grant writing services to help schools and organizations secure funding for child nutrition and food service programs.
• Procurement and RFP Management Establishment of vendor contracts to sustain food program operations, including improving vendor contracts and budgets, and managing the RFP process.
• Logistic Solutions and Delivery Innovative food delivery programs and logistic solutions ensuring access to food in schools, curbside pickup, or home delivery.
• Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP) Administrative oversight and management support for school and community CACFP programs, operated as a nonprofit division of HSFC.
• Nutrition Consulting Services Dietitians working with school food program operators and community food programs to ensure meals and snacks meet Federal Nutrition Standards.
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Consulting Expert consulting on NSLP including audit assistance, kitchen design, menu planning, procurement practices assessment, and staff training to ensure compliance with program guidelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools achieve and exceed USDA regulatory requirements for food operations

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Leaders Building LeadersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational industry organization listed as an HSFC industry partner, providing networking and promotional opportunities within the school nutrition sector.
• School Nutrition AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational organization representing school nutrition professionals. Listed as industry partner providing credibility and networking within the school food service industry.
• Association of School Business Officials International (ASBOI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational professional organization for school business officials. Listed as industry partner supporting HSFC's reach to school administrative decision-makers.
• New Jersey Charter Schools AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association providing referral and networking opportunities in New Jersey.
• North Carolina Association for Public Charter SchoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association supporting HSFC's presence and client acquisition in North Carolina.
• Public Charter School Alliance of South CarolinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association supporting HSFC's presence and client acquisition in South Carolina.
• California Charter School AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association listed as an HSFC affiliate, supporting presence in California.
• Florida Charter SchoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association listed as an HSFC affiliate, supporting presence in Florida.
• Tennessee Charter School CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level charter school association listed as an HSFC affiliate, supporting presence in Tennessee.
• National CACFP AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHSFC is a member of the National CACFP Association, demonstrating commitment to Child and Adult Care Food Programs and providing access to industry resources and networking.
• Food Service Management CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSFC has relationships with many local, national, and regional food service management companies. They help clients select and manage relationships with FSMCs to ensure profitable and quality operations. HSFC does not provide day-to-day food service staff - this is provided by the client's selected FSMC.
• Food Vendors, Distributors, and SupplierscoreOthersHSFC serves as a food operation administration liaison on behalf of food programs with distributors, suppliers, and vendors. These relationships bring value and economies of scale to schools and community organizations that offer meals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Emerging players

• Food Corps: Non-profit that partners with schools to improve food quality and nutrition education. Shares HSFC's mission around child nutrition and reaches some of the same K-12 customers, making it an adjacent peer for partnership and overlap.

Regional players

• Metz Culinary Management: Regional food service contractor serving schools, healthcare, and corporate clients. Comparable to HSFC as a mid-sized FSMC and potential partner for schools outsourcing meal operations.
• Whitsons Culinary Group: Northeast U.S. food service management company serving K-12 schools and other institutional clients. Comparable as an FSMC alternative to HSFC's charter school clients and a regional peer in the school foodservice market.
• National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI): Federally-funded institute providing training, research, and resources for child nutrition programs. Operates adjacent to HSFC's compliance and training mission and is a common reference point for school food program operators.
• Pomptonian Food Service: Mid-Atlantic food service management company focused on K-12 schools. Comparable to HSFC as a regional FSMC serving the same public and non-public school customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo Education: Global food service and facilities management contractor with a substantial K-12 and university segment. Operates meal programs under FSMC contracts; comparable to HSFC's institutional foodservice focus with materially greater scale.
• Chartwells K-12 (Compass Group): One of the largest U.S. K-12 food service management companies. A broad incumbent that contracts directly with school districts to operate meal programs — adjacent to HSFC's consulting layer and a potential channel for HSFC's procurement and compliance services.
• Aramark Education: Major U.S. food service contractor serving K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Provides on-site meal operations and nutritional programming — competes with HSFC's charter school clients for FSMC work and is a comparable institutional foodservice player.
• Elior North America: Contract food service operator with K-12 and higher education segments. Comparable to HSFC's institutional foodservice focus and a viable alternative for schools seeking full-service FSMC contracts.

Direct peers

• Chef Ann Foundation: Non-profit focused on healthier school food through consulting, tools, and The Lunch Box program. Highly comparable to HSFC given shared mission around school food program reform, scratch-cooking adoption, and K-12 nutrition compliance support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schoolfoodcollab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthyschoolfoodcollaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healthy School Food Collaborative