Education
K-12 Schools and University Kitchen Equipment, Foodservice Design and Supplies
Educational foodservice environments must be safe, efficient, and built to support daily operations at scale. The Sam Tell Companies designs and equips commercial kitchens and dining facilities for K–12 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities nationwide with a focus on code compliance, durability, and operational reliability.
We understand the budget constraints, regulatory requirements, and scheduling challenges faced by educational institutions. Our solutions are designed to support consistent meal service while aligning with long-term facilities planning.
Code-Compliant Foodservice Design
We design school and campus kitchens that meet health, safety, and accessibility standards, including USDA requirements for K–12 environments. From central kitchens to satellite prep areas, our layouts and equipment support safe, efficient, and durable operations.
Efficient Cafeteria and Serving Layouts
Our cafeteria designs optimize traffic flow, serving lines, and seating zones to minimize congestion and keep meal service on schedule. Flexible layouts accommodate multiple service models, special events, and the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
Energy Efficient and Sustainable Solutions
We help campuses implement energy-efficient equipment and sustainable practices, reducing utility costs and environmental impact while maintaining reliable foodservice operations for large-scale meal production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our foodservice designs align with applicable health and safety codes, accessibility requirements, and USDA guidelines for K–12 environments, as well as standards commonly required for higher education facilities.
Educational facilities require durable, high-capacity, and code-compliant foodservice equipment that can support consistent meal production, tight schedules, and long service life. Equipment selection varies by K–12 schools versus universities, but most facilities include cooking equipment, refrigeration and cold storage, food prep equipment, serving tools, warewashing and sanitation, and storage and support equipment.
Food safety and allergen control are critical in educational foodservice environments. Our kitchen designs support safe food handling and allergen management through proper layout, workflow separation, and equipment selection.
We incorporate dedicated prep areas where required, clear traffic flow between raw and finished foods, appropriate cold and hot holding, and sanitation stations that support effective cleaning practices. Equipment and finishes are selected to meet applicable health codes and food safety standards, helping schools and universities reduce cross-contact risks and maintain safe, compliant operations.
We create layouts that optimize traffic flow, serving lines, and back-of-house workflow to reduce congestion during peak periods. We analyze each schools' specific needs individually to design the optimal space for their students and faculty.
Educational institutions require flexible, high-volume foodservice solutions. We design and equip central kitchens, cafeterias, serving lines, satellite kitchens, and grab-and-go stations that meet health codes, support USDA or campus nutrition programs, and provide efficient, reliable meal service for students, faculty, and staff.
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