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When a group of Indian Hill High School students chose Aramark Student Nutrition Food Service Director Adam Lupp as their mentor for the school’s annual entrepreneurship competition, their smoothie concept didn’t win the competition, but it did outlast it. That concept, IH Blends, became a featured dining option in the school cafeteria this year, giving students hands-on business experience while adding a new offering to the dining program.
Each year, the school in Cincinnati, Ohio, hosts an annual entrepreneurship competition that challenges students to develop and pitch business ideas that can make a meaningful impact on the school, district, and broader community. Lupp worked closely with the student team throughout the summer to identify startup requirements, including equipment, smallwares, and operational space, while helping establish a staffing model and business plan. He also collaborated with school leaders to develop the financial framework needed to position IH Blends as a self-sustaining business within the high school.
To accommodate the new concept, the school's made-to-order deli station was reconfigured to create a shared operational space, allowing IH Blends to serve students before school and during lunch periods. Lupp also mentored the student management team through the hiring process, providing guidance on organizational structure, interviewing, scheduling, and workforce management. In addition, he conducted food safety and operational training sessions covering recipes, production standards, and service expectations.
Through collaboration with the school principal, a program was established to allow student employees to earn community service hours in recognition of their work with IH Blends. Since opening at the start of the 2026-27 school year, the Aramark Student Nutrition team continues to support the student management team with participation growth strategies, menu development, and procurement planning to help ensure the long-term success of the business.
"The addition of IH Blends during the 2026-27 school year has delivered measurable benefits for both the cafeteria and the student-run business," added Lupp. "Increased foot traffic has helped grow participation across our dining program while providing IH Blends with greater exposure and sales opportunities. The partnership reflects Aramark Student Nutrition's commitment to supporting student initiatives, strengthening school culture, and fostering innovative collaboration."
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