PODCAST
Spotlight
38 MIN |
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
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In this episode of The Next Up Podcast, host Marlon Gordon sits down with Tara Sharpe, K-12 Segment Director for Zee Zees ® (National Food Group), for an in-depth conversation about branding, innovation, and what it truly takes to succeed in school foodservice.From why K-12 is the “PhD of foodservice” to how strong branding directly increases student participation, Tara shares real-world examples of how fun, compliant, and student-approved products can transform the lunch line. They dive into innovation in a highly regulated space, allergen-friendly foods, grab-and-go success stories, scratch and speed-scratch cooking, and how listening to districts leads to game-changing solutions. The conversation also explores Zee Zees Grab the Tab initiative, which has helped pay off over $150,000 in school meal debt, the power of partnerships with School Nutrition Professionals, and what’s coming next for Zee Zees in 2026 — including new bulk products, commodity processing, and major conference plans.
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