At the heart of K-5 foodservice programs is the goal of serving nutritious and delicious meals to students on a daily basis, but at times, the logistics can be just as important as the food itself. One key area of consideration is how students can easily access condiments for their meals without spilling, making a mess, or struggling with the dispensers. In this Innovation Infusion, we’ll explore how we took our Lakeside Condi 70510 Mobile Express Cart and modified it to meet these challenges and become an inclusive choice for K-5 students.
The Backstory of the Inclusive K-5 Condiment Cart With Accessible Height
The initial request for this project came from a school district looking for condiment carts that would be easy for students at K-5 elementary schools to use. The goal was to provide students with the ability to use the cart independently, offer multiple choices, as well as plenty of space to set their tray on while pumping condiments. One critical factor was that the children shouldn’t have to hold their trays while dispensing the condiments. To meet these requirements, the Lakeside 70510 Condi Mobile Express Cart was chosen as our starting point for this sustainable project.
How We Executed It
We took the Lakeside 70510 Condi Mobile Express Cart and reduced the height of the counter surface to 28” and made the pumps accessible at a height of 36”. This modification allowed the young students to reach the pumps easily, giving them greater independence. We also retained the under counter storage area in the final product. Additionally, we added two laminate colors that would match the décor at all locations, creating a cohesive look throughout the schools.
An Inclusive Result for K-5 Foodservice
Constructed of welded Stainless Steel, the cart’s design includes six condiment pumps, all in Cryovac bag style. The cart features four sliding doors and six 5” swivel casters, with two of them equipped with brakes to ensure that the cart is both mobile and safe. Furthermore, a laminate top and laminated side panels were chosen to match the décor at all locations, creating a cohesive and contemporary look throughout the schools. We used the colors, Wilsonart Fashion Gray for the top and Formica Midnight Stone for the side panels, both of which are durable and easy to clean.
Turn Your Dream Design Into Reality!
Our inclusive K-5 condiment cart is a game-changer for school foodservice directors and operators, offering a customizable solution that enables young children to independently and safely access condiment dispensers. The inclusive design ensures that all students have equal access to all condiments.
In addition to this specific project, we offer a range of customizable and modified condiment stations, merchandising carts and breakfast kiosks for K-5 foodservice operations of all kinds. This flexibility means that no matter the unique requirements of a particular K-5 foodservice program, we at Lakeside are committed to finding a solution that meets the needs of the end-users.
Whether it’s this specific cart or a customized version to meet a K-5 foodservice operation’s specific needs, our commitment to innovation and flexibility make us the go-to source for reliable and sustainable foodservice products. So if you have a vision for a project, get started with a free consultation by clicking ‘Design Your Cart’ to connect with one of our Lakeside cart experts!
To see our previous edition of Innovation Infusion: From Trade Show Idea to Sustainable Outdoor K-12 Foodservice Solution, click HERE.
