Behind the Brand: Zee Zees

In this episode of The Next Up Podcast, host Marlon Gordon sits down with Tara Sharpe, K-12 Segment Director for Zee Zees® (National Food Group), for an in-depth conversation about branding, innovation, and what it truly takes to succeed in school foodservice.From why K-12 is the “PhD of foodservice” to how strong branding directly increases student participation, Tara shares real-world examples of how fun, compliant, and student-approved products can transform the lunch line. They dive into innovation in a highly regulated space, allergen-friendly foods, grab-and-go success stories, scratch and speed-scratch cooking, and how listening to districts leads to game-changing solutions.The conversation also explores Zee Zees Grab the Tab initiative, which has helped pay off over $225,000 in school meal debt, the power of partnerships with School Nutrition Professionals, and what’s coming next for Zee Zees in 2026 — including new bulk products, commodity processing, and major conference plans.If you care about school meals, student participation, innovation, branding, and feeding kids well, this episode is a must-watch.===========================Connect with our Guests!===========================Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeeZeesFoods/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeezeesfoods/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zee-zees-foodsWebsite: https://zeezees.com/Website: http://www.zzgrabthetab.com===========================Connect with us! ===========================Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtgen_network/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextuptalkshow/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtgenmarlon/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NxtGenNetwork365 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nxtgen-network/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NxtGen_Network TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nxtgen.network ===========================================Subscribe and Listen to the Next Up Podcast HERE:📱 ===========================================➡︎ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@nxtgennetwork/podcasts➡︎ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-up-podcast/id1598968019➡︎ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ex3Oj7aodeUe48EJGy9Dz ⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️00:00 – Why branding matters in K-12 foodservice00:55 – Welcome to The Next Up Podcast + first episode in the new studio01:15 – Meet Tara Sharp, K-12 Segment Director at Zee Zees02:40 – Driving innovation and working directly with school districts03:30 – Why K-12 is the “PhD of foodservice”04:45 – Standing out through branding, swag, and student excitement05:45 – How branding influences what kids choose on the serving line06:40 – Creating products based on direct district requests08:10 – Why innovation is critical in an ever-changing regulatory landscape09:40 – Scratch cooking vs speed scratch & meeting districts where they are11:10 – Labor shortages and how products support understaffed kitchens12:20 – Allergen-friendly products and Zee Zees core brand values13:30 – Participation success story: 20% increase with grab-and-go yogurt14:40 – Favorite products, flavors, and student favorites18:40 – Zee Zees sales team and long-term relationships in K-1220:10 – Why School Nutrition Professionals are unmatched in dedication21:40 – Lessons from COVID and the power of school meal programs23:20 – Inside the Zee Zees office culture25:00 – Giving back: the story behind Grab the Tab26:45 – Paying off school meal debt and director reactions28:20 – What’s coming next for Zee Zees and ANC 2026 teaser29:15 – Universal free meals and the future of school nutrition30:30 – Conferences, advocacy, and industry leadership31:45 – Commodity processing explained32:50 – New Zee Zees bulk product line walkthrough34:40 – Creative menu applications and speed-scratch recipes36:10 – Why bulk options give districts more flexibility37:10 – How to connect with Zee Zees37:55 – Final thoughts and wrap-up