Clear Communication and Strong Partnerships Are Key for Back-to-School Food Preparation and Planning
By Paul Janosko – Vice President of Chilled Distribution at STG
Next month, over 45 million students will return to school. Ensuring the meals they eat are not only fresh but also safe from allergens and contamination is one of the most critical responsibilities of our industry.
When it comes to preparing for a new school year, items like backpacks, binders, markers and glue sticks are top of mind. Retailers and supply chain organizations work diligently to ensure shelves are stocked and ready as early as July. But an entirely different kind of coordination is also taking place behind the scenes to ensure students receive safe meals during the school day.
Cold food chain logistics providers are ramping up operations to meet the demand for school-related perishables–everything from fresh produce to dairy, juice and packaged meals. And in 2025, getting ahead of the game means more than having enough space in the freezer. It requires foresight, coordination, technology and, most importantly, strong partnerships.
Two of the biggest concerns when it comes to cold food logistics are balancing the arrival of fresh food while minimizing food waste and avoiding contamination from allergens, chemicals, and pests. Safely nourishing over 45 million students across the country isn’t an easy task, but with the right logistics partner, partnership-driven strategies help everyone handle the peaks and valleys successfully.
Navigating cold food storage preparation for the school year starts with forecasting the demand for perishable goods. Analyzing past data and balancing it against flexible planning are essential. Successful providers will explore what they did well in previous years and identify opportunities for growth to guide their planning. Many school districts have short lead times, tight delivery windows and require frequent deliveries, so understanding their inventory requirements and preventing overstocking are two necessary components.
This year, in particular, the cold food supply chain faces numerous additional challenges. Extreme heat, catastrophic flooding, labor shortages, tariff uncertainty, and constantly evolving food regulations are straining both food manufacturers and logistics providers. In the supply chain world, the only certainty is often uncertainty. Successful logistics during the back-to-school season hinges on open and clear communication, and at STG Logistics, our approach is to stay informed, flexible and communicate proactively every step of the way. We can’t control the weather or trade policy, but we can control how we communicate with our partners and how we respond and adapt to dynamic situations.
At STG, we will work with you to align forecasts, leverage technology and stay informed on everything from climate discussions to labor changes. Choosing a cold food storage partner who prioritizes communication above all else will help your organization successfully navigate the constantly changing supply chain landscape.
