Montclair School District Hires New Food Service Company To Kick Off 2026

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair Public School District is swapping out its food service providers and hiring a national corporation to take over operations.

The district is launching a new partnership with Sodexo, which takes effect on Monday. The company will assume full responsibility for meal preparation and service at all Montclair public schools, including breakfast and lunch programs.

The company will work with district leadership, school administrators and food service staff to ensure a “smooth transition and continuity of service” for students and families, school officials said.

Sodexo, one of the largest food service corporations in the nation, manages school cafeterias across the United States. Read the company’s “Pledge to Corporate Responsibility” here.

“We recognize that school meals play a critical role in our students’ daily lives,” Superintendent Ruth Turner said.

“Our partnership with Sodexo represents an important step forward in strengthening our food service program, enhancing meal quality, and ensuring a positive dining experience for all students,” Turner said.

To set up an account for a MPS student, check account balances and update payment information visit https://www.myschoolbucks.com. More information – including updated menus and program details – will be shared with families and staff in the coming weeks, administrators said.

Sodexo has seen criticism in the past over worker salaries and subcontracting. In 2023, hundreds of food service workers authorized strikes against the food service behemoth at nine cafeterias in New York and New Jersey, including the East Orange Public School District.

• See Related: School Cafeteria Workers In East Orange Threaten To Strike Over Pay

Sodexo has also partnered with former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson on SodexoMagic, a food services and facilities management provider for corporations, health care facilities, K-12 schools and campuses, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

• See Related: Magic Johnson, NJ Hospital Team Up To Fight Food Desert

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