Food service vendors interested in learning more about business opportunities with the Houston Independent School District and meeting potential partners are encouraged to attend a networking event from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.

The event, sponsored by the district’s Business Assistance team for Supplier Diversity, will be held at HISD’s Food Services Administration building at 6801 Bennington, Room 1112. District officials will be on hand to answer questions about HISD’s meal programs, the procurement process and paperwork requirements.

“We thought this would be a good idea to bring those who are interested in food services to help them actually meet the decision-makers in food services,” said HISD’s Supplier Diversity Team Lead Bernard Willingham.

The networking event will also serve as an informational preview for the district’s Request For Information (RFI) due Aug. 28 for vendors interested in participating in HISD’s upcoming Food Services “Nutrition Innovation” Food Show on Oct. 24. The RFI will evaluate the company’s food products, and approved firms will be able to present their food products to parents, students and other stakeholders at the October Food Show.

Learn more about the RFI for the Nutrition Innovation Food Show

“This gives them an opportunity to get in front of decision-makers and showcase their products,” Willingham said. “It also gives them a leg up on what the Food Service team is looking for in innovative products and services.”

HISD’s Food Services team serves more than 270,000 meals each school day with the goal of fueling academic performance and inspiring the development of lifelong dietary health and wellness behaviors. As part of that mission, the district is increasingly looking for ways to incorporate whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins into menus that are flavorful, healthy and appealing to students.

Willingham said he hopes interested companies will turn out for Monday’s networking event and participate in the upcoming food show.

For more information about the networking event, contact HISD’s Business Assistance Team at 713-556-7273 or by email at businessassistance@houstonisd.org. For information about the RFI, contact Beth Rutherford at 713-556-6544 or by email at brutherf@houstonisd.org.