CELEBRATE THE INNOVATION. REFLECT ON THE CONNECTIONS. REMEMBER THE FUN.
2024 EVENT RECAP 1990’S EDITION
THIS IS SCHOOL MEALS
It’s a movement!
TO LEARN HOW TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT CLICK HERE OR CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
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04 Thank you for attending Ignite 2024! It was an epic night that started with a live filming of the Next Up Talk Show, featuring Heartland School Solutions sharing their future plans for Generative AI! Big congratulations to AmTab and Rialto USD for winning the Innovation Awards, and J.T.M. Food Group for snagging the People’s Choice Award! The night was packed with so much fun, awesome music, and epic dance-offs! Most importantly, it was filled with people who are passionate about feeding our children! Thanks to everyone who attended and made it a night to remember. Can’t wait for San Antonio! FROM OUR PARTNERS LINQ WOODLES AMTAB J.T.M. FOOD GROUP SCHOOL FOOD ROCKS 05 06 08 09
IGNITE RECAP VIDEO SPONSOR THANK-YOUS ORANGE CARPET PHOTOS IGNITE PARTY PHOTO RECAP NEXTUP EPISODE: THE EVOLUTION OF SCHOOL MEALS WITH HEARTLAND SCHOOL SOLUTIONS
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VULCAN CARGILL
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IGNITE PARTY PHOTO RECAP INNOVATION AWARDS 2024: OPERATOR WINNER INNOVATION AWARDS 2024: INDUSTRY WINNER PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD “BEST OF” AWARD WINNERS 360 CAMERA PHOTOS WITH ZEE ZEES NXTGEN MASTERCLASS 2025 MIRROR BOOTH PHOTOS WITH ACCUTEMP
INTERNATIONAL FOOD SOLUTIONS BUTTERBALL E S FOODS COOL TROPICS
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Give us your feedback on IGNITE 2024
to our SPONSORS!
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ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
STEP RIGHT UP ORANGE CARPET PHOTOS
View more Orange Carpet photos HERE
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LINQ provides cloud-based purpose-built software solutions for school districts and state agencies, empowering the business of child nutrition. Our modern solutions streamline your K-12 operations with more efficiency, flexibility, and insights, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks and eliminating human error. Imagine faster meal lines with a high-performing POS uninterrupted by power or WI-FI outages, automated production records, real-time updates to optimize inventory management, and centralized payments – all powered by a single back-end system. LINQ Nutrition provides districts with a front to back of house integrated solution built to help teams do more with less and ensure compliance. Simplify school fees and student meal payments for your district’s families and optimize your payment workflows with LINQ’s fast, easy-to-use, and secure online payment platform and mobile app LINQ Connect. Families can also access the full menu including allergens, complete their Free and Reduced Meal Applications and Income Forms, and more! LINQ offers a portfolio of solutions, including Education Resource Planning, Digital Forms & Workflows, District Nutrition and State Nutrition Management, and Centralized Payments. Ready to learn more? Connect with an expert today to learn how LINQ’s solutions can benefit your district or state agency.
Click HERE to connect with LINQ!
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8 | IGNITE RECAP 2024 View more party photos HERE
WITH
The Evolution of School Meals
Josh Paynter Sr. Director, Client Services Heartland School Solutions Mark Williams VP, Product Management Heartland School Solutions
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here and it’s already be - ing utilized by school districts and Heartland School Solutions to increase productivity. On this episode of Next Up Live the group discusses the definition of AI, its evolution over the years, and its current use within school foodservice. They highlight the benefits of generative AI in menu planning, allergen management, newsletter creation, customer ser - vice, and more. The conversation also touches on the challenges, concerns, and solutions associated with AI, such as data accuracy and job displacement.
Emma Anne Hallman, SNS Child Nutrition Director Haleyville City Schools
Jon Campbell Technology Supervisor,
Food and Nutrition Services Cherry Creek School District
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEARTLAND SCHOOL SOLUTIONS HERE!
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PRESENTED BY:
AND
OPERATOR WINNER
CONGRATULATIONS RIALTO USD! OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
ENTRY SUMMARY: We are currently utilizing Canva as a tool to create our social media content as well as presentations and awards for staff. We are able to en- gage with our students, parents, staff and community and we keep them updated on the scratch cooked meals we are preparing daily for our scholars! Social media has allowed us to keep a real time relationship with our students - and utilizing the great features of Canva, we are able to create beautiful content that showcases the nutritious meals that so many staff members put their heart and soul into making.
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What’s a Woodle? The answer: A whole grain ramen noodle! Woodles have taken the K-12 space by storm this past year and schools are welcoming Woodles onto their 2024 menus in many creative ways. Gone are the days of having to use mushy whole grain spaghetti noodles as a substitute for ramen. Woodles hold their firm texture, can be cooked and chilled, or held hot making them a perfect solution for a variety of recipe concepts. Preparing Woodles Ramen Noodles in the cafeteria is about as easy as preparing ramen in your own kitchen. Do you have hot water? Then you can make Woodles! The best part about the Woodles craze: Your students, no matter what grade level, will be ecstatic to see familiar new food on their lunch menus. We’ve even heard students exclaim that Woodles is the “best school meal I’ve ever had!” To see how easy it is to prepare Woodles using a variety of methods and common equipment, checkout our YouTube channel and go to our website: www.getwoodles.com for recipe inspiration. Stay tuned for Woodles made even easier when the Woodles Cup launches in 2025.
Click HERE to connect with Woodles!
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INDUSTRY WINNER
CONGRATULATIONS AMTAB! FURNITURE & SIGNAGE GRAPHICS DÉCOR
ENTRY SUMMARY: Our Mobile Booth Seating - Half Round is an innovative product we recently modified. This product has always been a staple within K-12 cafeterias. However, after speaking with more and more school nutrition professionals, there was an addition to this product that could really benefit schools. In order to get more seating in the cafeteria, adding a back shelf with seats allows us to really maximize the seating capacity in that space. It also provides students with another unique seating option to enjoy the amazing meals produced. AmTab is always about being innovative and finding creative solutions to give students more seating variety in the cafeteria. This was definitely a team effort between us and school nutrition professionals’ feedback.
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AmTab creates modern, popular, and fun K-12 food courts for students across the country. Combining stylish furniture with stunning graphics can elevate your school nutrition programs to new heights. If you are interested in taking the first step to create a space that students want to be a part of, we would love to connect and work together to transform your cafeterias into beautifully designed K-12 food courts!
Create Your Dream K-12 Food Court Today!
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YOU VOTED! The 2024 People’s Choice Award Goes to...
J.T.M. FOOD GROUP and their Birria Bao Buns Recipe!
CHECK OUT THEIR WINNING RECIPE HERE!
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At ANC in Boston, J.T.M. honored the finalists of their 2024 Crave recipe contest and crowned the grand prize winner, North Crawford School District from Wisconsin for their Ultimate Breakfast Pizza. Visit www.jtmfoodgroup.com/ANC to get access to all the crave-able recipes from this year’s Crave Collection and learn about all the new products showcased at ANC.
Download the 2024 Crave Collection HERE!
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16 | IGNITE RECAP 2024 View more party photos HERE
School Food Rocks is revolutionizing the school dining experience by offering comprehensive services tailored to the needs of school districts and manufacturers. Our mission is to ensure that every student enjoys nutritious, delicious, and visually appealing meals that support their academic success and overall well-being. For school districts, we provide menu planning services, staff training, and marketing strategies to promote healthy eating habits among students. Manufacturers benefit from our expert insights into school food trends and preferences, helping them develop products that meet nutritional guidelines and appeal to students.
Click HERE to connect with School Food Rocks!
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18 | IGNITE RECAP 2024 View more party photos HERE
Vulcan is a leading provider of high-quality kitchen equipment designed to meet the demands of school nutrition programs. Their products are known for their durability, efficiency, and innovative features that help school kitchens deliver nutritious meals to students with ease. One of their latest innovations is the 28 GALLON PRECIPAN™ ELECTRIC INTELLIGENT TILTING BRAISING PAN. This versatile piece of equipment is perfect for schools adapting to changing menus. It combines the functionality of multiple appliances, allowing you to braise, sauté, simmer, fry, and grill—all within one unit. The intelligent controls and tilting feature make it easier than ever to manage large-batch cooking, ensuring that school kitchens can provide a variety of delicious, nutritious meals efficiently. If you’re interested in learning more about how Vulcan’s equipment can enhance your school nutrition program, don’t hesitate to reach out to Vulcan for more information!
Click HERE to connect with Vulcan!
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BEST DRESSED AWARDS
BEST DRESSED GROUP: Jennifer Martin, Addy Waldie, Jillian Andolina, Jessica Cogswell, Megan Bates
BEST DRESSED INDIVIDUAL: Alicia Glick
BEST DRESSED DUO: Stefanie Giannini & Marcus Shelton
View more award photos HERE
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Cargill supports K-12 schools with kid-approved protein offerings. Our ready-to-heat products make it easy to fuel students with quality protein for breakfast, lunch, and snack time. Cargill’s versatile K-12 portfolio includes Sunny Fresh® Eggs and French toast products and Crave House plant-based crumbles. In case you missed Cargill at ANC, catch the highlights here to see how Chef Jesse paired the new Sunny Fresh® Individually Wrapped Colby Cheese Omelet with jazzed-up salsa and a teriyaki sauce, highlighted the Crave House Italian-style plant-based crumbles in a protein packed Mediterranean bowl and created a sweet build with the Sunny Fresh® French toast. Protein Solutions Your Students Will Love
Explore the Cargill K-12 product portfolio!
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BEST DANCER AWARDS
BEST DANCER AWARD WINNER: Mary Chappell
HONORARY MENTION: Casey Ashley
RUNNER-UP AWARD WINNER: Josh Schmidt
View more award photos HERE
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At International Food Solutions, we are dedicated to delivering delicious and nutritious meals that meet the K-12 nutritional guidelines. Our culinary-focused menu options offer restaurant-quality meals with craveable flavors that resonate with students while fitting within budgetary constraints. Our products are crafted to boost participation and satisfaction, making mealtimes something students look forward to. Our specialized brands—Asian Food Solutions, Comida Vida, and Aahar Foods—bring authentic cuisine to K-12 schools across the nation. We take pride in our ability to provide full plate solutions that are not only easy to serve but also packed with the rich, ethnic flavors that kids love. Our innovation cycle is driven by a commitment to developing unique products that lead the market in quality and taste, all while meeting the diverse needs of K-12 foodservice. We are more than just a food manufacturer; we are your partner in creating memorable dining experiences for students. Let us help you boost participation while delivering restaurant-quality options that set your menu apart.
Click HERE to connect with International Food Solutions!
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3600 CAMERA
Sponsored By
View more 3600 Camera videos HERE
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INTRODUCING
APRIL 14-16, 2025
The NxtGen MasterClass 2025 is a premier event designed to elevate the school food - service industry by integrating the expertise and strategies from both school nutri - tion and high-end dining sectors. Set against the luxurious backdrop of the Celeste Hotel in Orlando, FL. The NxtGen MasterClass is not just an event; it’s a culmination of years of building relationships and refining strategies within the school nutrition and high-end din - ing communities. Our goal is to empower attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to innovate and excel in the school foodservice sector. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from the best, connect with like-minded professionals, and take your foodservice program to new heights.
INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE? CLICK HERE!
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3600 CAMERA CONTINUED
View more 3600 Camera videos HERE
Sponsored By
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Delicious Products, Unlimited Possibilities Butterball is dedicated to supporting K-12 foodservice operators with delicious products and inspiring recipes to keep their students happy and healthy. We were thrilled to introduce two new products at ANC this year: Ground Turkey Spaghetti Sauce and Ground Turkey Taco Filling, made with white and dark meat for a smart and nutritious alternative to ground beef in popular lunch recipes. Pre-seasoned and sold frozen, they minimize prep time with their convenient boil-in-bag format, easy for both steam and stove top methods. Enjoy these delicious ways to maximize your commodity dollars and fuel creativity. We’ve also partnered with Kikkoman to develop the Sweet Thai Chili Turkey Over Fried Rice recipe, made with our Turkey Tenderloin Medallions and Kikkoman sauces. It’s a great way to offer students the global flavors they love. Learn more and find additional K-12 products and recipe inspiration.
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Sponsored By
View more Mirror Booth Photos HERE
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E S Foods Showcases Kid-Friendly, Culturally Diverse Fare at ANC
The name of the game for E S Foods has always been to develop tasty and nutritious foods that kids will like with a focus on easy to prepare, grab & go options. Kid-friendly and culturally diverse fare was the draw at E S Foods’ ANC booth this year as explained in an Ignite Digizine interview with the company’s Executive Chef, Chef Clayton Pride, who also gave his always-popular culinary demo at the show. Chef Clayton shared his take on the popularity of E S Foods’ products that appeal to kids and meet the needs of cultural diversity in schools. He highlighted E S Foods’ new Latin American specialties, such as their authentic Argentine Empanadas made with beef and plantains. What are kids into these days? More SPICE is on trend said Chef Clayton, so another popular item takes grilled cheese up a notch with a Ciabatta Cheese Melt made with pepper jack cheese. He said the crowd favorites at the ANC booth this year were the Empanadas and the re-designed Pretzel Dogs. Also new this year and a big hit is the versatile chicken breast log – a staple that is fully cooked, ready-to-eat and be shredded, diced and sliced for a variety of uses, such as chicken salad, chicken wraps and more. Click HERE to connect with E S Foods!
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MIRROR PHOTO BOOTH
CONTINUED
Sponsored By
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Get your students lining up for school lunch! Serve Cool Tropics 100% Juice Slush in a 4 oz. pouch. Credits as 1 serving fruit (1/2 cup). Need Veggies? Try our Cool Tropics 100% Vegetable Juice Slush or new Cool Tropics 100% Vegetable Juice Pouch, available in two delicious on trend flavors. Credits as 1 serving additional vegetable (1/2 cup). All Cool Tropics products are individually wrapped (IW), shelf stable, and staff friendly. Pouches can be frozen – thawed – refrozen. Ideal for Breakfast – Lunch – Supper – Summer Feeding – Grab N Go – Special Events. And best of all, our fun, colorful marketing is “free!” Get your stickers, posters and calendars today by contacting Amy at amyt@cool-tropics.com. Let Your Cool Rule!
Click HERE to connect with Cool Tropics!
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RIP CARDBOARD MARLON GONE TOO SOON
SAN ANTONIO IN 2025 CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN
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