The Top 50’s eight largest K-12 market operators

1. Compass Group North America

K-12 Schools business: $2.4 billion (estimated 11% of company total)

Compass operates in the K-12 market in the U.S. primarily through its Chartwells K12 division, with the CulinArt and Flik units operating dining in private and independent schools. Given the company’s fiscal year extending from early fall to early fall, the figure above basically cover the 2021-22 school year and summer 2022, when K-12 district for the most part saw a return to in-class instruction and federal COVID-era universal meal programs were still in effect. As a result, FM estimates that the company’s K-12 business saw a 44% increase in fiscal 2022, assuming that about half of the company’s $4.8 billion in Education business was generated by the K-12 market.

2. Aramark

K-12 Schools business: $1.59 billion (estimated 19.5% of U.S. Food & Support Services foodservice operations total)

Aramark’s Education business (reflecting both K-12 and college/university) generated 39% of its foodservice revenues in the Education sector, which includes both K-12 and college/university operations, and FM is assuming about half the total was generated by each. Like the other two “Big Three” firms, Aramark’s fiscal year launches in early fall, beginning in October and stretching through the following September, which means that the fiscal 2022 number basically reflects the 2021-22 school year and summer 2022, during which FM estimates Aramark saw its K-12 revenues grow by about 46% as students returned to in-class instruction and the federal COVID-era universal free meal program still in place.

3. Sodexo

K-12 Schools business: $1.55 billion (estimated 16% of company total)

Sodexo’s Education business in North America, which includes both college and K-12 operations, was up 24% for the 2022 fiscal year with FM estimating about half of the total being generated by K-12 operations. The number basically reflects the 2021-22 school year plus summer 2022 given Sodexo’s fall-to-fall fiscal year and benefited from a general return to in-person classes and the continuance of federal universal free K-12 meals over the term.

4. Cenavera Nutrition

K-12 Schools business: $589 million (100% of company total)

The largest K-12 specialist in the country was formed last year by combining FM Top 50 firms Southwest Foodservice Excellence and SLA Management with another company called OrganicLife.

5. Whitsons Culinary Group

K-2 Schools business: $262 million (76% of company total)

Whitsons’ K-12 business expanded 66% last year with students returning to schools and being offered universal free school meals under pandemic federal policies still in place through the spring.

6. SAGE Dining Services Inc.

K-12 Schools business: $247.5 million (90% of company total)

Unlike the others on this list of companies operating in the K-12 market, SAGE primarily serves the private rather than the public school market with its well-developed, customized and tech-intensive approach that accords with this market’s preferences. Last year, SAGE saw school-based revenues grow by about 10%.

7. Opaa! Food Management Inc.

K-12 Schools business: $200 million(e) (100% of company total)

Opaa! today operates in more than 800 schools in more than 250 public school districts across seven Midwestern states, with the highest concentration being in Missouri and Kansas, according to its website. The company offers its client districts a comprehensive array of K-12 meal services, including catering and nutrition education in addition to traditional breakfast, lunch and after-school snack offerings.

8. Nutrition Inc. dba The Nutrition Group

K-12 Schools business: $186.3 million (90% of company total)

Nutrition Group followed up a 33% increase in its K-12 revenues in 2021 with a 62.5% jump in 2022 as students returned to classes.