Feeding a large population in a corrections facility requires careful coordination, efficient food transport and equipment that can keep up with demanding service schedules. When meals need to reach hundreds of people within a limited timeframe, maintaining food quality and temperature throughout distribution is paramount.
One Florida corrections facility found Cambro’s non-electric Camcarts® to be the best solution. Using these insulated transport units, the facility can feed 1,200 inmates in just one hour while delivering hot meals without plugging in the carts. Here are three ways non-electric insulated holding makes high-volume meal service more manageable.
1. Streamlining High-Volume Meal Distribution
Serving 1,200 inmates in an hour is no small undertaking. Although the meals are prepared by an outside company and sealed in disposable trays, corrections foodservice teams must heat the trays in ovens in the kitchen first before distributing them. Because the facility is so large, meals need to be kept warm in carts while they’re transported and distributed throughout the facility. Having equipment that supports an efficient workflow is essential to keeping everything on schedule.
Cambro Camcarts provide a hot holding solution for moving the prepared meals from the kitchen to designated serving areas without needing additional heating support.
“[The Camcart] fits my needs. It holds enough that we don’t have to buy too many of them,” said the commander.
Using just 15 carts, all inmates receive their food within an hour.
2. Hot Food Holding Without Electricity
Cambro insulated transport units are known for their dependability. The corrections facility had used its previous Cambro units for at least a decade when the commander decided to look for a new solution.
“Cambros were recently replaced with these [Camcarts]. The older ones were great, but due to age, they needed to be replaced, and the newer ones are definitely doing the job and holding temperatures to the point where the inmates are getting hot food,” said the commander.
One of the biggest advantages of the Camcart is its ability to maintain food temperatures without requiring an electrical connection. Unlike heated holding cabinets, non-electric carts rely on insulation alone to retain the temperature of properly heated food throughout transport and holding.
This offers several advantages in a corrections environment:
- No electrical requirements: Staff can move carts throughout the facility without needing access to outlets or managing power cords.
- Simplified workflow: Without the need to plug in units, staff can focus on meal delivery and service rather than coordinating powered equipment.
- Fewer Parts: The Camcart is rotomolded into one piece and fitted with doors that are held with rust-proof, sturdy latches.
3. A Reliable Solution for Demanding Corrections Foodservice
When asked what he likes about the Camcarts, the commander said, “Easier to clean, easier to maintain, easy to roll, and they keep the heat well.”
Non-electric Camcarts simplify the cleaning process, which is ideal for facilities where inmates handle cart cleaning and upkeep.
“I went with the simple tried and true method,” said the commander. “They work well.”
This facility delivers meals away from inmates, but facilities where carts travel near inmates would benefit from the Camcart’s optional security package. Designed with high-security environments in mind, Cambro’s Camcart Security Package adds an extra layer of protection for corrections foodservice operations.
The package includes tamper-resistant fasteners, non-removable doors, lockable hasps on each door and heavy-duty casters with chassis plates secured by tamper-resistant bolts. With the addition of padlocks (sold separately), staff can secure cart compartments and help prevent unauthorized access to meals during transport and holding. These reinforced features make the Camcart a particularly practical solution for corrections facilities where food security, controlled access and equipment durability are essential.
By eliminating the need for electricity during transport and holding, the Camcart helps simplify meal distribution and support demanding foodservice schedules. For corrections facilities looking to improve food transport without adding complexity to their operations, Cambro offers a dependable solution that keeps meals hot and service moving.
