Bonnie Caulfield

ROI
Mansfield Public Schools
April 11th, 2022

Part 1. Introduction/Purpose/need (20 points)

While working in a school food service program, it was noted that school breakfast
participation has changed a great deal since the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the
breakfast set up was free/reduced/paid tray line service. When the COVID-19 Pandemic
occurred, breakfast service changed to Grab & Go kiosks that were set up in the hallways.
Increased participation was due in part to The Universal School Meals Program Act allowing all
students, regardless of qualification, to receive free breakfast and lunch at school. It is also
important to note that when service transitioned to being out in the halls, the breakfast options
were more visible to students and more accessible. There is a need to continue hallway Grab &
Go because it may help deflect a decrease in breakfast participation when meals are transitioned
back to free/reduced/paid status. The goal is to retain participation.
Discussion with the Food Service Director of Mansfield Public Schools has determined
that the anticipated decrease in breakfast participation when universal free meals are
discontinued is an area of increasing concern and the purchase of breakfast carts for hallway
service may be effective in retaining participation. Currently a heat lamp on a rolling kitchen cart
is being used and does not present very professionally. A new breakfast cart will serve to
improve on the already successful Grab & Go stations and provide a more professional feature
compared to the current stations.
It will be determined if a warm and cold breakfast cart for breakfast service in the
hallway would financially make sense for purchase. A tablet will also be necessary to purchase
for cashing out student meals. The cost of this equipment will be compared to expected revenue
gain. Mansfield Middle School will be our target audience since the elementary school format in
Mansfield will be changing this coming school year and data from previous years will not be
useful.

Part 2. Resources Expended (30 points)

The major factor to consider for the purchasing of this breakfast cart is the cost of
equipment. The program has extra funds available that are anticipated to cover the cost of the
breakfast cart.
Hubert makes a Mobile Breakfast Cart that is of interest in this scenario. The cost is
$1,999 and the volume of breakfast served at the middle school would require two to be
purchased. Since both hot and cold food is served, a separate device for keeping food warm is
necessary. Hubert makes a Hot Plate that is warmed in the over and then used underneath food
trays to maintain food temperature. This plate costs $118.55, and two would be necessary (one
for each cart). Additionally, a smart tablet would be necessary for sales to be checked out. An
Android tablet with internet capabilities costs $113.99 and will be added to the cost of the
equipment. The new cart will require a staff member to operate during the breakfast waves, but
no labor costs will change when the carts are implemented compared to current service. In total,
the cost to implement this new Breakfast Cart system will be $4,349.09. The items are listed in
Appendix A.
Part 3. Outcomes (30 points)
Calculations may be found in Appendix B.

Breakfast sales for the 2019 and 2021 years were estimated using the sales from the month of
September in each year. The total sales for the month were divided by the number of school days
in the month. This daily average for the month of September was then multiplied by the total
number of school days in the year (180) to estimate the yearly sales.

As indicated in Appendix B, sales in 2019 when tray line service was only in the cafeteria were
roughly $24,000. When breakfast was moved to Grab & Go service in the hallways in 2021,
sales were at roughly $40,500. Sales after breakfast carts are implemented are expected to reflect
that of the 2021 year and be close to $40,500. This would be an ROI of 288% and the payback
period for this purchase would be 3.09 months.

Part 4. Summary and Conclusions (20 points)

In conclusion, the breakfast cart equipment will be a beneficial investment as indicated
by both the ROI and the payback period. Breakfast sales will continue to be high with service in
the hallway and will be more professionally presenting with carts made specifically for Grab &
Go food service as opposed to the current set up. This investment is expected to improve both the
quality and quantity of breakfast sales.

Appendix A

Mobile Breakfast Cart by Hubert® - Stainless Steel with Ice Bin

https://www.hubert.com/product/76306/Mobile-Breakfast-Cart-by-Hubert---Stainless-Steel-with-
Ice-Bin
Sterno® The Heater™ Hot Plate - 10"L x 14"W
https://www.hubert.com/product/71617/Sterno-The-Heater-Hot-Plate---10L-x-14W

Tablet 10.4 inch Android 11 WiFi 6 3GB+32GB Quad Core 6000mAh Battery 10.4" HD
Touchscreen Tablets

https://www.amazon.com/Android-6000mAh-Battery-Touchscreen-Tablets/dp/B09RGLKBNY/
ref=sr_1_8?crid=20IO82ERVWU81&keywords=android
%2Btablet&qid=1649857334&sprefix=android%2Btablet%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-8&th=1

Appendix B
ROI = (gain from investment - cost of investment) ÷ cost of investment

Payback= investment ÷ expected yearly income