GENERAL MILLS FOODSERIVCE BRINGS FRESH IDEAS TO NACUFS MEMBERS DURING BAKERY TRAINING AND MARKETING SEMINAR
NACUFS’ members looking to bring fresh ideas to campus recently visited General Mills headquarters in Minneapolis for a two-day marketing and baking seminar hosted by General Mills Foodservice.
Attendees—who came from schools such as Utah State, the University of Northern Iowa, Purdue, and Kansas State—had an opportunity to collaborate with their peers and gain valuable culinary and marketing insights to drive business success on campus.
NACUFS members spent their time working in the General Mills Culinary Center, learning about creative baking tips, finishing ideas, and recipes.
Many operators, like Scott Ostrander, food administrator at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, attended the seminar to get up to speed on the latest culinary and consumer trends. Recently assigned to oversee the bakery on his campus, Ostrander was looking for ways to create exciting new menu items. “I really enjoyed learning about the new trends and the different finishing ideas for desserts,” said Ostrander. “I’ll definitely be looking for ways to incorporate all of these great ideas on campus this year.”
Victoria VanPelt, bakery supervisor and pastry chef at West Virginia University, also valued her time in the Culinary Center. “We’ve been offering the same desserts for years. I learned how to take one product, like cake mix, and make a dozen different options, which will really help us bring new ideas to our board plan menu.”