School Nutrition Procurement Made Easier | Kevin Crampton, HPS

How can school nutrition professionals work smarter, not harder? In this episode of NutriSmart Snax, Maureen Pisanick sits down with Kevin Crampton, Vice President of Business Development and Contracting at HPS, to discuss procurement best practices, commodity management, Buy American requirements, and the technology tools helping school nutrition programs become more efficient. Kevin shares insights from more than 30 years in school foodservice, including how data-driven purchasing decisions, procurement partnerships, and innovative reporting tools can help directors save time, improve compliance, and maximize resources. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How procurement has evolved in school nutrition ✅ Why data matters when making purchasing decisions ✅ How the HPS Contract Analysis Tool (CAT) helps districts stay on bid ✅ Strategies for maximizing commodity dollars ✅ Preparing for Buy American requirements ✅ Why partnerships are critical for school nutrition success Whether you're a director, supervisor, purchasing manager, or school nutrition professional, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement right away. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations designed to help school nutrition professionals innovate, inspire, and succeed. #SchoolNutrition #SchoolMeals #ChildNutrition #Procurement #BuyAmerican #SchoolFoodService #K12Education #CommodityManagement #NutriSmartSnax Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Meet Kevin Crampton: 30+ Years in School Nutrition 01:58 Why School Nutrition Leaders Matter More Than Ever 02:26 From Restaurant Owner to School Nutrition Expert 03:37 Working Smarter, Not Harder in School Nutrition 04:07 Understanding HPS and Its Member-Owned Approach 05:13 What Is the Contract Analysis Tool (CAT)? 06:38 Identifying Off-Contract Purchases 07:53 Using Purchasing Data to Drive Better Decisions 09:00 Maximizing Commodity Dollars 09:54 Commodity Reports That Save Time During Audits 10:30 Replacing Paperwork with Technology 11:17 Why Schools Should Consider a Group Purchasing Organization 12:08 How Procurement Has Changed in Recent Years 13:33 Buy American Requirements: What Schools Need to Know 14:26 Solving Procurement Challenges for Juice Products 15:40 Kevin's Favorite School Lunch Memory 16:08 Final Thoughts on Partnerships and School Success 16:39 Closing Remarks