Aldevra’s K-12 Kitchen Upgrade Planning Kit

Use it for:

• ‍‍Annual planning
• USDA Equipment Grant applications
• Summer project scheduling
• Replacement forecasting
• Lunch line improvement planning‍

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Upgrade Readiness Checklist

Is it time to upgrade? Use this quick assessment:

Heavy Equipment:

□ Oven not holding temp

□ Warmers losing heat or drying food

□ Dish machine delays

□ Serving line wells failing or uneven

□ Walk-in struggling to recover at peak times

□ Frequent repairs (2+ per year)

□ Parts becoming hard to source

□ Utility mismatches with newer models

Light Equipment:

□ Microwaves heating unevenly

□ Blenders/mixers losing power

□ Food processor dull/blade issues

□ Countertop warmers inconsistent

□ Repeated outages during service

Operational Flow:

□ Long lunch lines

□ Students crossing paths

□ Congested entry or POS points

□ Milk cooler or condiment station backups

□ Insufficient grab-and-go access

If you checked:

• 5+ boxes → Plan upgrades this year
• 3–4 boxes → Plan for summer
• 1–2 boxes → Monitor and budget
• 0 boxes → You’re in great shape

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Inventory & Condition Assessment

Use this chart annually:

Aldevra can help fill this out during a free walkthrough.

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Budget Planning Tool

Use this planning table to allocate funds:

Need help estimating? Aldevra provides no-cost exact/equal recommendations and itemized quotes.

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Priority Setting Framework

1. Must-Do (Safety & Compliance)

• Refrigeration failures
• Dish sanitation issues
• Equipment not meeting USDA requirements
• Broken or unsafe equipment

2. Should-Do (Efficiency & Speed)

• Lunch line slowdowns
• Aging ovens/warmers
• Outdated small appliances
• Layout causing cross-traffic

‍3. Could-Do (Enhancements)

• Grab-and-go line
• Scratch cooking upgrades
• Merchandising improvements
• Digital menu displays

Aldevra helps schools categorize upgrades during onsite visits.

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Sample Summer Upgrade Timeline

March–April

• Conduct equipment walkthrough
• Identify priority upgrades
• Confirm utilities
• Begin grant applications (USDA/state)
• Request quotes from Aldevra

May

• Finalize purchase orders
• Schedule installation dates
• Coordinate with facilities team

June–July

• Delivery & installation
• Utility connection verification
• Removal of outdated equipment
• Staff training on new equipment

August

• Final kitchen reset
• Menu testing
• Grab-and-go stocking plan
• Back-to-school readiness check

Aldevra books summer installations early—this timeline helps districts plan ahead.

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Kitchen Layout Optimization Guide

Serving Line Layout:

□ Clear entry & exit

□ No cross-traffic

□ POS placed at natural flow point

□ Milk cooler positioned after meal pickup

□ Two-sided access where possible

Back-of-House Layout:

□ Smooth flow: receiving → storage → prep → cook → hold → serve

□ Sufficient prep table space

□ Walk-ins close to prep

□ Scrape area separated from prep

□ Light equipment placed at staff height

Grab-and-Go Layout:

□ Merchandiser at high visibility point

□ No bottleneck near POS

□ Access on both sides if possible

Aldevra includes line flow and layout recommendations with every major quote.

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Equipment Replacement Planner

This tool because it supports 5-year capital planning.

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Funding & Grants Guide

Common Funding Sources:

• USDA Equipment Assistance Grants
• State CN funding
• ARPA/CDBG (project dependent)
• Foodservice operating budget
• District capital funds
• Local wellness or foundation grants

Aldevra Provides:

• Exact/equal specs
• Quotes that meet grant requirements
• Assistance describing equipment benefits

Check out our Ready-to-use grant materials for additional support!

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Light Equipment Starter Bundle Recommendations

For schools wanting scratch or fresh-prep capability:

• Commercial blender
• Food processor
• Immersion blender
• Countertop steamer
• Commercial microwave
• Portioning tools (spoodles, ladles, scales)

This complements heavy equipment upgrades.

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Aldevra Kitchen Upgrade Consultation (Included)

Every planning kit comes with:

• On-site walkthrough
• Utility check
• Flow + layout review
• Exact/equal matches
• Budget-friendly recommendations
• Installation scheduling support

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Local team. Fast turnaround. Federal-level quality.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

sales@aldevra.com

(269) 350-1337

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Aldevra — Helping K-12 Schools Upgrade Smarter.