School foodservice directors need equipment that works as hard as their teams do. Every day, school foodservice programs prepare and serve hundreds of meals, sometimes transporting them across campus and offsite. As they encounter new meal service needs, many foodservice directors have found they can rely on Cambro products to adapt to changing trends, safely control food temperatures and efficiently serve students.
We have five Cambro products that offer practical solutions to some of the most common challenges in school foodservice.
In a busy school kitchen, the Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack helps simplify the process of organizing, holding and transporting prepared food.
Unlike traditional metal racks that can rust, corrode or become difficult to maneuver, Cambro’s Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack is constructed from durable, lightweight material that is rustproof. Its heat-resistant rails accommodate sheet pans straight from a 350°F oven, while custom center-stem casters provide stability and smooth movement. Available in multiple sizes and rail spacings, the racks can be configured to meet different kitchen needs.
At Whittier Union High School District in California, the racks help the central kitchen prepare and transport 180 pizzas each weekday to six schools. Paired with insulated covers, they provide a safe and efficient way to deliver pizzas while maintaining an organized transport process.
“They’re easy to maneuver and the brakes are amazing; the ones with the metal carts weren’t that sturdy,” said Elizabeth Brown-Smith, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Whittier Union High School District. “The drivers love the brakes; [the casters] just glide much easier.”
The racks also serve a purpose beyond delivery. The school utilizes them to proof pizza dough overnight in the refrigerator; each rack is covered with reusable Cambro vinyl covers to protect the food during the process.
An organized kitchen starts with an effective storage system. Between walk-in coolers, freezers, dry storage rooms and dishwashing areas, school nutrition departments need shelving that can withstand demanding environments.
Cambro’s Camshelving provides a durable, rust-free alternative to traditional metal shelving. Its modular design allows foodservice teams to maximize the storage of any space, while removable shelf plates make cleaning and maintenance easier. Mobile configurations also allow staff to move shelving throughout the kitchen or out of the way to effectively clean beneath them.
At Lakeville Area Schools in Minnesota, Director of Student Nutrition Kristen Rezac appreciates how Camshelving simplifies cleaning in busy kitchen environments.
“I like the fact that you can pull the shelves off and run them through the dishwasher. They’re just easy to clean. They hold out for a long time.”
Breakfast in the classroom, grab-and-go and off-site meal distribution give students more opportunities to access school meals. But moving food beyond the kitchen requires equipment that is lightweight, durable and designed to help maintain food temperatures during transport. Enter: The Cam GoBox.
Made from high quality expanded polypropylene, the Cam GoBox helps maintain hot and cold food temperatures for at least 4 hours. Designed to be easy for virtually anyone to carry and maneuver, the Cam GoBox is ideal for transporting food to classrooms, field trips, satellite kitchens and across campus. Available in different configurations and sizes, Cam GoBoxes accommodate a variety of menu items and meal service models.
“I had seen the Cambro GoBoxes that were made out of the EPP (expanded polypropylene) material. When I found out they were making them in a milk crate size, I thought that was an avenue worth exploring because they’re lighter, they’re stronger, there’s no zipper to break and they ended up actually coming in less expensive on the bid price,” said Kris Simmons, Nutrition Services Sous Chef at Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6.
Durable and extremely temperature retentive, Simmons decided to purchase 1,580 Cam GoBox Milk Crate Boxes.
“We were having a lot of trouble keeping food at proper temperatures before the GoBoxes,” said Simmons. “I actually use a temperature logging unit that plugs into my computer, so I was able to take temperature logs before and after. I never actually got to the time where they came out of temperature. Our longest bus route ran three and a half hours and we stayed under 40°F the whole time.”
A successful grab-and-go program depends on accessibility, organization and speed. The Camshelving Premium Series Flex Station helps school nutrition teams bring meals and snacks directly to students, whether in hallways, near classroom entrances or at alternative serving locations on campus.
Made with durable, rust-free Camshelving materials, the mobile station can be customized with shelves, divider bars and Cambro food pans or boxes to display everything from breakfast items to fresh fruit and beverages. Its lightweight design makes it easy for staff to move throughout campus.
At Concord Elementary School in Michigan, implementing a Breakfast in the Hallway program with three Flex Stations helped increase daily breakfast participation from approximately 80 meals to more than 240. By making breakfast easier to access, the school encouraged more students to grab a meal before heading to class.
“Prior to the program, many students avoided the cafeteria, so they just didn’t eat,” said Rebecca Hutchinson, Superintendent at Concord Community Schools. “Now, we are able to engage more students in eating breakfast because it is easy to access.”
For school foodservice directors, the Flex Station offers a practical way to expand meal access, increase participation and adapt service to students’ needs, all while making the most of available space.
Cafeteria trays do more than carry meals, they can help make school lunch more appealing. Cambro Camtrays are durable, reusable trays designed to withstand the demands of daily foodservice. Available in a variety of colors and customizable with school logos and designs, they offer schools a practical way to reinforce school spirit while improving meal presentation.
At Manheim Township School District in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Director of Food Services Kelly Price introduced personalized Camtrays featuring the district’s logo. The change helped the district serve salads more effectively to elementary students, while the eye-catching designs brought new excitement to the cafeteria.
“Now, our kids are going nuts over the salads; we sell so many,” said Price. Since introducing the personalized trays, cafeteria participation increased by 6%, with revenue rising as well.
“The tray makes the meal. Bright colors and personalization make the food more appealing and engaging,” said Price.
Equip Your School Kitchen for Success
The right equipment can make a meaningful difference in how school nutrition programs operate. From the versatility of the Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack to the storage benefits of Camshelving and the flexibility of Camtrays, these products help school foodservice directors address everyday challenges with practical, durable solutions.
Whether the goal is to streamline meal delivery, organize storage, expand grab-and-go service or introduce more sustainable meal options, Cambro products help school nutrition teams adapt to their needs while keeping students at the center of every meal.
