Macomb ISD school increased their average daily meal participation by 30% with Ordo

When a long-standing meal service vendor in southeast Michigan went out of business in the middle of the school year, it posed a significant challenge for the Macomb Intermediate School District (ISD). Carolyn Thomas, the child nutrition director for Macomb ISD, which oversees more than 280 schools, made her first call to Ordo. She knew the company’s reputation for being structurally set up to respond quickly, their honesty and integrity, and their personal commitment to improving schools.

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Historically, schools throughout Michigan had relatively low meal participation rates. Less than one in four students ate meals at the school despite the state’s provision of universal free breakfast and lunch to all students. The previous vendor's menu was full of highly processed products and offered little variety, especially in fruits and vegetables–they reportedly served only apples every single day.

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“We heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but that vendor took it a bit too literally,” said Hunter, the CEO of Ordo.

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It would be a challenge. Ordo had to be operational within two weeks, despite the nearest partner school being almost 30 miles away. The company immediately got to work, introducing a menu that featured both meat and vegetarian options daily on a four-week rotation. This meant ten different options each week and over forty options within a month. The new menu not only met public nutrition requirements but also catered to students with specific dietary needs, such as diabetic students requiring carb counts for each meal.

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Students quickly noticed the change. Ordo’s dedication to providing fresh food made from scratch daily proved to be a big hit with their community. Students particularly loved the scratch-made chicken sandwiches, especially the Crispy Chicken Sando, which became a favorite and saw high participation on the days it was served. Additionally, Ordo introduced picnic boxes for field trips, which could be easily ordered online through the app.

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By the end of the next school year, the daily meal participation rate had increased more than 30% in just under 4 weeks. This remarkable turnaround showcased Ordo's ability to swiftly and effectively address the needs of a school district, significantly improving meal participation and satisfaction among students.