Menu Seasonality In-Between Seasons

Menu seasonality is a hallmark of successful catering companies, as it draws in clients seeking fresh, high-quality ingredients from local sources. While some ingredients are inextricably linked to certain seasons (like watermelon in the summer), you might wonder how to bridge the gap between distinct seasons.

Shoulder seasons—as these transitional periods are known—can present challenges for menu design. Weather patterns and shifts in harvest timing can disrupt even the best-laid plans, especially when trying to source from local suppliers.

Fortunately, a bit of creativity and flexibility allows you to develop menus that meet clients’ expectations and feel appropriate for the time of year. Here are a few actionable strategies to help you navigate shoulder seasons with confidence.

Rely on versatile ingredients

Plenty of foods are available and “in season” all year round, like grains, poultry, and legumes. Use these as a base for your dishes to create consistency, adding seasonal touches with sauces and garnishes. Think about how you can freshen up a dish while maintaining its core ingredients. For example, the same kale and farro salad can easily transition from winter to spring by swapping sweet potatoes for apples or trading rosemary for mint.

Blend seasonal flavors

When you’re stuck between two seasons, you might as well make the most of both! Develop hybrid offerings that combine ingredients, like a cobbler that mixes late-season berries with warm spices for a tasty summer-to-fall dessert. Or incorporate fresh spring greens into a hearty dish of roasted root vegetables for an easy shift between winter and spring. Enjoy the best of both worlds during these unique shoulder seasons!

Incorporate preserved foods

Embracing preservation techniques is a great way to carry ingredients over to the next season. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce kitchen waste and maximize your cost of goods! Pickling, fermenting, and canning seasonal ingredients makes them versatile throughout the year, extending their usable shelf life. For instance, tomatoes canned in the fall adds color and flavor to a spring dish while pickled summer cucumbers can bring freshness to a heavier fall salad.

Collaborate with local suppliers

Nobody knows seasonal availability better than those who grow and supply food! Partner with local farms, markets, growers, butchers, and fisheries who specialize in seasonal food sourcing. They can alert you to any market shifts and offer suggestions for navigating shoulder seasons with fresh ingredients. If you are a member of a group purchasing organization (GPO) like SB Value, you can also consult with a local representative who is familiar with your market’s availability.

With the right approach, you don’t have to survive shoulder season — you can thrive through the transition! Treat it as an opportunity to showcase your team’s creativity and resourcefulness by embracing local produce and developing menus that bridge the gap between seasons. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore unexpected flavor profiles!

Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales for SB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member. Request a quote today.

IAAPA Announces Strategic Partnership with SB Value to Deliver Significant Food and Kitchen Savings to Members

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (Jan. 28, 2025) — IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, is thrilled to introduce a transformative member benefit through its partnership with food buying program SB Value, the largest client of US Foods. This collaboration brings US-based IAAPA members access to unmatched savings on food and kitchen supplies by leveraging SB Value’s purchasing power across more than 28,000 of their locations. 

As part of IAAPA’s ongoing commitment to deliver exceptional value, this program offers members average savings of, on average, 17% on food purchases, with some discounts reaching as high as 25%. “At SB Value, we focus on helping businesses optimize their food costs without adding complexity. This partnership with IAAPA enables members to maximize their savings while keeping their focus on creating exceptional guest experiences,” says Trip Wheeler, President of SB Value. 

SB Value negotiates directly with manufacturers and distributors to ensure IAAPA members in the U.S., regardless of their business size, receive the advantages of a $10 billion buying network. Members can benefit from reduced expenses, increasing profitability and creating a financial advantage that allows them to invest those funds into other areas of operation. 

Why Choose SB Value? 

As US Foods’ largest client, SB Value uses its vast network and negotiating power to secure the best prices for IAAPA members. Key benefits of the program include: 

• Increased Savings: Significant food and kitchen supplies savings up to 25%  

• Effortless Profit: Earn more without doing more. Place orders through US Foods, receive deliveries, and enjoy instant savings. 

• No Obligations: No long-term contracts, additional membership fees or hidden costs. 

IAAPA members already benefiting from the program have shared their success stories. Nick Martorelli, Director of Food & Beverage at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games adds, “The SB Value program has been a game-changer for us. We’ve significantly reduced food costs, allowing us to allocate that capital into other business endeavors. It’s seamless and delivers real results.” 

Jakob Wahl, IAAPA’s President and CEO, highlights the broader impact of the initiative: “This program is a direct reflection of IAAPA’s mission to support our members. By reducing essential costs, we’re providing our US members an opportunity to focus on new innovations that can drive their facilities towards continued success.” 

IAAPA’s partner program is designed to solidify new business relationships, allowing the association to collaborate with companies that offer products and services that directly affect and enhance the global attractions industry. Anyone interested in learning more about becoming an IAAPA partner should contact Partnerships@IAAPA.org. 

 ###

About SB Value 

SB Value is a leader in food-buying programs, committed to helping businesses maximize profitability by reducing food costs. As the largest client of US Foods, SB Value combines immense purchasing power with unmatched convenience to deliver significant savings for its members. 

About IAAPA 

IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world. 

Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents leading industry attractions and supplier companies, consultants, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, cruise lines, manufacturers, and suppliers. 

Congrats to Adriene!

We are thrilled to share that our very own Adriene Myers has been promoted to Chief of Staff of SB Value. ⁠ ⁠

Adriene Myers, a proud graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, brings more than 25 years of expertise to her role as Chief of Staff at SB Value. Her career journey includes a decade of clinical experience, followed by 15 successful years as an Office Manager, where she honed her leadership skills by managing a team of 20 and delivering exceptional customer service.⁠ ⁠

In her role at SB Value, Adriene guides the company’s strategic direction, ensures alignment across teams, and drives the implementation of key business initiatives. Her leadership fosters collaboration and keeps the organization focused on achieving its goals.⁠ ⁠

Beyond her professional achievements, Adriene finds joy in her role as a dedicated single mother to two talented, athletic children. She cherishes time spent with family and friends, whether cooking together at home or enjoying the tranquility of the beach—her favorite place to unwind and recharge.⁠ ⁠

Please join us in congratulating Adriene!

Roundup: Where You Can Find SB Value in Q1

2024 was a whirlwind of travel and growth for SB Value, and 2025 will be no exception. The next two months are particularly jam-packed for us, so here’s where you can find us as we kick off 2025!

IAAPA FEC Summit 2025

Starting off strong, we’ll be on our way to New Orleans for the IAAPA FEC Summit from January 19-21. IAAPA’s FEC Summit is the attraction industry’s premier event for broadening your network and connecting with other professionals, and the education and interactive tradeshow isn’t one you want to miss!

Not only will we be showcasing on the tradeshow floor, but SBV is proud to announce that we’ll be a Gold sponsor of the event as well — plus, we might even be participating in the costume contest!

MIBE

Right off the heels of IAAPA, SB Value will be back on the road to sponsor the annual MIBE Summit in Denver, CO, from January 26-28. Hosted by Anthony Lambatos of Footers Catering, MIBE is an incredibly hands-on workshop for leaders to harness their skills and create better workplace environments for their teams.

Camping Carolinas

From February 8-11, you can catch us in Myrtle Beach, SC, at the Camping Carolinas’ CARVC Conference & Expo. This is the perfect place for campground owners to meet other leaders and access some amazing education on the oceanfront!

Catersource

It’s not lost on us that we’re bound to also see you in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL, for Catersource + TSE! We’ll be there from February 24-27, both for the tradeshow and for our panel that Tuesday on “Smart Spending: Balancing Pricing + Profit for 2025.”

We look forward to connecting with you more this year and helping you save money on your food + kitchen costs. If you see us on the road, come say hi!

Set 2025 Up for Success with a GPO

As the catering industry continues to evolve and the economic landscape remains shaky, staying competitive while managing costs is more critical than ever. With rising food prices, supply chain concerns, and a growing demand for creative, high-quality menus, catering professionals must explore smart—and sometimes unfamiliar—solutions to keep their businesses thriving in the new year.

One of the most effective ways to streamline operations and boost profitability is by joining a group purchasing organization (GPO). If you haven’t considered this option, it might be just the solution to upcharge your business in 2025.

A GPO pools the buying power of its members—in some cases, thousands of businesses—to negotiate better prices, provide access to a wider variety of products, and offer expert support tailored to your needs. In other words, membership grants time and cost savings. Here’s how a GPO can transform your business in the new year.

Reclaim your time

Time is one of your most valuable resources, so it’s best to save it where you can. By handling price negotiations and streamlining the procurement process, GPOs take the burden of supplier management off your plate so you can reinvest those hours into your business (or your personal development!). Instead of spending precious time researching vendors, comparing prices, and placing individual orders, you can place a single order and let the GPO handle sourcing and negotiation with a network of trusted distributors.

Reduce the cost of goods sold

Food and supply costs can add up quickly, so keeping a finger on the pulse of your expenses is vital to protecting profit margins. Saving money is a GPO’s bread and butter — by leveraging collective buying power, it’s able to secure wholesale discounts no single company could get. Saving on products and ingredients you use every day makes a noticeable difference to your bottom line, allowing you to reinvest in other areas of your business like upgrading equipment or hiring more staff.

Expand access to inventory

Many food distributors partner with specific brands, which supports their business. However, for clients, that means a limited selection of products to purchase. Even if you don’t notice gaps in your menu, you’re likely missing out on savings from brands that offer the same items at a more affordable price. Working with a GPO broadens your access to source ingredients from the top food suppliers in the nation, providing more options at better rates. This expanded access also provides consistency, reducing the risk of last-minute shortages or substitutions that could affect the integrity of your menus.

Gain support from purchasing experts

Most catering business owners are experts in culinary matters, but not necessarily in running a kitchen efficiently or growing a successful business. GPOs are more than just purchasing agents; they’re also business partners who have been “inside” thousands of kitchens. Local representatives can provide support and advice for menu curation, inventory management, equipment maintenance, pricing, and additional cost savings. Partnering with a GPO means having a trusted advisor in your corner, helping you build a more resilient and profitable business.

As you prepare for 2025, joining a GPO could be the game-changing strategy you’ve been looking for. Membership benefits are designed to save you money, improve efficiency, and strengthen your operations — all worthwhile goals for the new year. Don’t let rising costs or time constraints hold your business back. Take the step and let a GPO do the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on what you do best: delivering outstanding culinary experiences.

Clint Elkins is the V.P. of Sales forSB Value, a Group Purchasing Organization that helps culinary professionals save an average of 16% on every food order. Membership is 100% free. No hidden fees. No extra work. Just extra profits. See how much you can save on your next food order when you become an SB Value member.Request a quote today.