Delores, an elementary school cafeteria manager, has done several things to encourage her 960 students to drink more milk. Two years ago she began to see milk sales and consumption rates decline, and students were turning down milk with their meals. So a year ago, she began rotating new flavors every 3 months in addition to 1% milk and 1% chocolate milk. September through December 1% vanilla milk was offered, January through March it was 1% orange milk and now, April through June, she's offering 1% strawberry milk. "Along with offering new flavors, my staff and I have taken a picture of us with milk mustaches, declaring that the lunch ladies love milk as much as the students. When my staff now serves lunch they remind students that we have three delicious milk flavors and my staff states what their favorite milk flavor is. Overall, the students love the different milk flavors. I have also taken a picture of a group of my students with milk mustaches", Dolores says.
The elementary school uses paperboard cartons in their school and within the last year have seen milk usage increase 25-35 percent. They have 30 new customers per day for breakfast and lunch sales have increased by 200 per day. In addition to increased numbers, an increase in morale among students has also been noticed. Delores also began displaying celebrity milk mustache banners. Students love seeing famous faces. "I always say that milk keeps them happy and healthy, giving them the energy needed to perform." Delores says of the celebrity banners. "Students smile and ask which milk flavor I had wih my lunch. I state my favorite milk is strawberry, but tomorrow I might try white milk and students will agree to try a new flavor too."
The program began just over a year ago, when milk sales and consumption rates were low. With the new milk program, milk consumption has increased and milk sales are up 25-35%.
