Journal & Topics Media Group

Dist. 62 Approves New Food Service Contract


A new food services contract with Arbor Management, Inc. for Des Plaines Elementary School Dist. 62 includes a 4.83 percent increase in the reimbursable lunch rate and a 2.6 percent decrease in the reimbursable breakfast rate.

Dist. 62 Board of Education members approved the $921,880 bid from Itasca-based Arbor Monday (June 17). It covers food service from July 1 through June 30 of next year. Another $947,465 bid was submitted to the district from OrganicLife, a Chicago-based company.

“The Illinois State Board of Education-Nutrition Programs Department closely monitors the bid process,” said Dist. 62 Assistant Supt. for Business Services Mark Bertolozzi in a memorandum.

Lunches make up the bulk of Arbor’s bid cost at $641,044, followed by breakfast costs at $178,971. Other costs include an a la carte equivalents fee, reimbursable after-school snacks and summer breakfasts.

Arbor has provided food to the district since 2014. A four-year contract with the company expired after this school year. During the final year of the contract, there was a 2.5 percent cost increase due to the Consumer Price Index, a measure of price increases for commonly purchased goods.

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