For years, a controversy has been brewing over the amount of junk food and soft drinks being sold through vending machines in local schools. Schools benefit from revenue-sharing arrangements, but many parents and health experts are concerned about the negative effects of these snacks and beverages. You and your brother have almost a decade of experience running espresso and juice stands in malls and on street corners, and you'd love to find some way to expand your business into schools. After a quick brainstorming session, the two of you craft a plan that makes good business sense while meeting the financial concerns of school administrators and the nutritional concerns of parents and dietitians. Here are the notes from your brainstorming session:
■ Set up portable juice bars on school campuses, offering healthy fruit and vegetable drinks along with simple, healthy snacks
■ Offer schools 30 percent of profits in exchange for free space and long-term contracts
■ Provide job-training opportunities for students (during athletic events, etc.)
■ Provide detailed dietary analysis of all products sold
■ Establish a nutritional advisory board composed of parents, students, and at least one certified health professional
■ Assure schools and parents that all products are safe (e.g., no stimulant drinks, no dietary supplements)
■ Support local farmers and specialty food preparers by buying locally and giving these vendors the opportunity to test-market new products at your stands
Your task
Based on the ideas listed, draft a formal proposal to the local school board, outlining your plan to offer healthier alternatives to soft drinks and prepackaged snack foods. Invent any details you need to complete your proposal.