For Immediate Release – March 26, 2008

Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools Selects Whitsons Food Nutrition

 The Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools decided to accept the proposal of Whitsons Food Nutrition as its food service vendor .  Rob Detweiler, Director of Finance and Operations, announced at the March 25 School Committee meeting that Whitsons will provide breakfast, lunch, and other food service operations for the schools beginning July 1, 2008.  Mr. Detweiler stated, “The Food Service Sub-Committee worked diligently to prepare a Request For Proposals that reflected the desires of the community. After many hours spent reading the proposals and careful deliberation, the committee came to the conclusion that Whitsons Food Nutrition would be the best match for Amherst.”  

Whitsons, a family owned business from Islandia, New York, has several food service contracts in Connecticut and New York.  Elaine Brighty, Regional School Committee chairperson and chair of the Food Services sub-committee, stated, “Whitsons received marks of “highly advantageous” from every member on practically every criteria we used to rank the proposals from food service providers—from nutrition, healthy food and ingredients, commitment to use local produce, and diversity of menus, to human resources and employee training, management expertise, operational policies, and availability of support personnel.”

 Marianne Jorgensen, School Committee and Food Services sub-committee member, noted that “Whitsons is open to buying locally grown produce, values their employees, and will be responsive to the community needs.  They emphasize the use of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, foods that are low fat, and are without trans fats or high fructose corn syrup (they even keep it out of their catsup), and they will offer a wider variety of vegetarian and ethnic fare.”

The terms of the agreement are still being finalized.  As identified in the Request for Proposals, Whitsons will employ all Amherst food service employees within the next two years.  The company has agreed to pay all employees at their current salary and will provide additional benefits not provided by the school district. 

 In August 2007, the Regional School Committee formed the Food Services sub-committee, which included school committee members, parents, and Mr. Detweiler, to research food service operations, survey the community, and to develop the Request For Proposals.  Ms. Jorgensen stated, “The company put on such an effective presentation, and great food, the night they came to the school.  You could feel their caring, family-oriented approach and the dedication to offering an alternative, healthy approach to school lunches.”