General FAQs
The event will run from Sunday, July 13, through Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Pre-conference workshops will take place on Saturday, July 12. The Exhibit Hall will be held over two days, Monday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 15.
Sunday, July 13 through Tuesday, July 15. Pre-conference workshops will take place on Saturday, July 12. The exhibit hall will be held over two days, Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15.
ANC 2025 will take place at The Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas.
Top-tier keynote speakers, a diverse offering of 120+ education sessions featuring the hottest topics in school nutrition led by experts, the largest exhibit hall in K-12 foodservice with 900 booths representing about 300 companies, networking events and closing event entertainment. We project about 3,500 school nutrition operators will attend.
Anticipating the high demand for hotel rooms for our Annual National Conference (ANC), SNA secured room blocks at over a dozen hotels within walking distance of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
SNA is projecting about 7,000 attendees at the conference in July, which means it would be impossible for most people to stay at their first-choice hotel. However, as we have done every year, SNA has worked with our housing company (Conference Direct) to get as many rooms as possible in different hotels and at different price points. As we plan for the conference, SNA meticulously assigns a percentage of rooms for operators/attendees and exhibitors based on the inventory provided by each hotel. We limit the number of rooms available to each type of attendee so we can ensure there is a balanced and positive experience for both operators and exhibitors. By focusing on equal access, providing a variety of options, and distance from the convention center, we strive to provide you with hotel options that meet your needs.
Each hotel in our block has something unique to offer, ensuring a pleasant stay for all attendees.
The success of SNA’s Annual National Conference depends on registrants and exhibitors using SNA’s contracted hotels to offset the sizable costs of producing our annual meeting. In general, hotels require groups like SNA to fill a minimum percentage of the contracted number of hotel rooms at their property. If we do not meet that minimum, we are required to pay the difference for the shortfall. The cities that SNA selects for the Annual Conference are in demand by other groups, so SNA contracts with hotels many years in advance to try to ensure there are enough hotel rooms available for our attendees and exhibitors.
- Discounted rates that include free or discounted internet in guest rooms.
- Networking is easier as SNA-contracted hotels are bound to have other attendees staying there.
- Peace of mind that you have a reservation at an “official” SNA hotel at the discounted rate.
- Ability to receive important meeting-related materials at your hotel room (room drops), as well as for safety reasons, SNA being aware we have attendees at specific hotels.
- Protection in the event the hotel has oversold guest rooms.
SNA is committed to enabling access to all meeting activities, including dietary restrictions, to the extent reasonably possible and as required by law. To discuss or notify SNA about your access needs, please email meetings@schoolnutrition.org no later than June 20, 2025.
Scooters, wheelchairs and other mobility devices and services:
If you need of a scooter, wheelchair, or other mobility devices while onsite, we recommend you secure one ahead of time by reaching out to the following provider:
Toms Wheelchair and Scooter: Toms Wheelchair and Scooter Rentals, (210) 223-7878
Since SNA does not provide busing to/from the hotels and the convention center, if you need transportation, the city of San Antonio offers several great options. The first two offer free service, and the last one has a minimal cost.
For Nursing Mothers, the Center has two dedicated locations:
East Wing – Room 1212 (lobby corridor between Halls 3 & 4)
West Wing – Room 2137 (next to Room 215 in Parkview)
Both rooms are equipped with:
- Comfortable Furniture
- Power Outlets
- Wastebasket
- Table
- Paper Towels
These rooms can be secured if necessary. A restroom is located nearby. Operations Staff periodically refresh the room throughout the day. Any questions please call 210.207.8500.
The Center will have some of their concession areas open during ANC, and there are also plenty of options right around the Center and along the Riverwalk.
SNA will provide a Baggage Check on Tuesday, July 15, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm in Exhibit Hall 3. SNA is happy to provide this complimentary service to all attendees and exhibitors. SNA is not liable for bags left anywhere else.
Literature displays are confined to booths in the Exhibit Hall. If you are not an exhibitor, you are not permitted to distribute any literature to our attendees. It will be confiscated if we see it in an unauthorized location.
It’s easy to increase your company’s brand awareness and generate new leads with print and digital advertising opportunities from SNA—including our official ANC publications. Additionally, our advertising sales partners from MCI, Dan Kaste and Christina Kardon, will be on site at #ANC24 and available to meet with you.
This is an unauthorized publication produced by an outside source. They are not associated in any way with SNA. Copies left in the BCEC or at SNA hotels will be confiscated and discarded. We have also observed that most attendees do not read this publication when handed to them in public areas and they typically go into the trash.
When reporting an emergency remain calm and be prepared to describe in detail the nature of the emergency.
Courtesy phones are located within the HBGCC. Instructions with phone numbers are provided near each phone.
• Contact the HBGCC Event Manager or
• Report to any HBGCC staff or
• Contact the HBGCC in-house Security Division at (210) 207-7773
If an emergency is a life-threatening situation, please do the following:
• Call 911 immediately and give as many details as possible.
• Notify the operator that you are a guest at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 900 E. Market St.
• Notify in-house Security (210) 207-7773 and relay the information so that they can direct emergency personnel to the appropriate location quickly.
• Notify the Event Manager (EM) assigned to the event by radio, Convention Center courtesy telephone, or cell phone and give as many details as possible
If there is a non life-threatening emergency, please do the following:
• Notify in-house Security Division (210) 207-7773 and relay the information
• Security personnel will forward the report of the emergency to the EM assigned to the event by radio, Convention Center telephone, or cell phone and give details as needed.
• Security personnel will call 911 if necessary and relay information required.
• Security personnel will ensure someone is available to direct emergency personnel to the appropriate location quickly.
In the case of an evacuation, an announcement will be made over the speaker system and security officers and convention center staff will provide additional instruction.
If you find any items or need to report a lost item, please visit Guest Services located in the Main Lobby, near ANC25 registration. To inquire about a lost item or to report a found item, you can also call 833-246-5155 or visit the following link: Lost and Found.
Starting May 7, all airline passengers must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, permit, or identification card to board domestic flights. These IDs feature a star in the upper right-hand corner. If you’re flying to ANC25 in San Antonio, SNA strongly encourages you to check the status of your ID now and, if needed, secure a REAL ID before traveling to San Antonio to avoid any travel delays.
The Market Café and various concession stands throughout the Convention Center will be open daily during ANC25 registration hours. Below are the available food and beverage locations by date:
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13:
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Market Café – Main Lobby (including Barbosa)
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El Puente – West Lobby
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Grab and Go – Lobby Corridor
Monday 14 to Wednesday 16:
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Market Café – Main Lobby (including Barbosa)
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El Puente – West Lobby
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Grab and Go – Lobby Corridor
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Broken Crust (Outdoor Pizza Kitchen) – Lobby Corridor
Yes, there is tons of information on the local area, including special offers for ANC25 attendees. Please go to the Hotel and Travel section of the website for details. This information can also be found here: https://www.visitsanantonio.com/meeting/conferences/anc-2025/.
There are water fountains and water filling stations throughout the Convention Center. Please bring your own bottle with you and make sure to hydrate often.
Since all the hotels in SNA’s contracted block are considered walkable and are no more than a little over half a mile away, shuttles are not provided this year. However, if you cannot, or do not feel like making the walk, San Antonio offers several great options for attendees to get from their hotel to the convention center or any downtown area, including the vibrant Pearl District. The first two below offer free service, and the third has a minimal cost. Details can be found on their websites.
To be eligible for the drawing to win an all-expense paid trip to #ANC26, you need to evaluate at least one education session using the #ANC25 Conference App while you are at the conference. There is no separate entry form. The random drawing will occur by Monday, July 28th and SNA will contact the winner via email within five (5) business days. If you have questions on how to evaluate an education session you attend, visit the App booth next to ANC245 Registration. The staff there will be happy to help you.
Registration FAQs
Visit the ANC25 registration page; full registration provides access to all education sessions, the exhibit hall, SNA networking events, and closing event entertainment. Early bird discounts are available.
Members receive a discount of $25 off each full registration when three (3) or more individuals from the same school district register together in a single transaction. You will be given the option to register as a group during the registration process just before completing the payment.
The number of people who can be trained at these sessions is limited. Also, the accompanying materials and necessary planning can be costly to produce so we must charge for them. Pre-registration and payment save you time during the conference and helps SNA conduct the pre-conference workshops more efficiently.
Fees vary depending on the length of the workshop.
We are expecting somewhere between 6,500 – 7,000 school nutrition professionals and industry representatives.
Please go to the main registration area located in the North Lobby of the convention center. We recommend bringing a valid photo ID to verify your identity.
Go to the registration area in the Main Lobby of the convention center. A staff member there can print a new name badge for a $20 fee.
Note: We have enabled people to update their title, company/school district, city and state when they initially check in and are able to preview their badge. So ideally, they would take care of any issues before the badge is printed.
SNA offers complimentary press registration for credentialed media. All press registrations must be coordinated through SNA’s Director of Media Relations.
Please contact one of the following media representatives to request a complimentary press badge:
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Elizabeth Cowles Johnston
Media Relations Support
📧 ecowles@cjpr.com | 📱 860-770-4622
Press registration grants access to press events, General Sessions, and the Exhibit Hall during published hours. Admittance to education sessions is at the discretion of the session host. If you wish to attend pre-conference sessions or other ticketed events, you will be required to pay applicable fees. Contact the Director of Media Relations for any special access requests.
Exhibitors and Sponsors FAQs
Your benefits include non-competing exhibit hall time in our two-day tradeshow with pipe and drape for your booth, exclusive exhibit hall time with school nutrition directors, five or more complimentary hall badges for your staff (depending on booth size), access to education sessions, use of the ANC 2025 conference logo for marketing, and much more. See becoming an exhibitor for more details.
A wide range of opportunities are available, from providing attendee tote bag inserts to sponsoring networking events. See Sponsorship Opportunities for more information.
For sponsorship opportunities, please email Nita Artis, Senior Corporate Sales, Industry Success & Patron Program Specialist, at nartis@schoolnutrition.org. For exhibitor opportunities, please email Crystal Harper-Pierre, Senior Corporate Sales & Industry Specialist, at charper@schoolnutrition.org.
Education & Professional Development FAQs
We are excited to announce our two keynote speakers are:
Opening Keynote: Magie Cook
Closing Keynote: Jia Jiang
Participants will earn 13.5 CEUs for the live event. Additional CEUs can be earned for those who pre-register for preconference workshops taking place on Saturday, July 12.
Every education session at ANC falls under one of four Key Areas. These are designed to help you choose training that best meets your professional needs. In 2015, USDA established minimum Professional Standards for annual training for school nutrition professionals, which must be in any, some, or all 4 of the Key Areas.
A specific education/professional development plan and suggested areas of concentration should be determined with your supervisor or manager. If you and your manager agree on what sessions you will attend, you should be able to meet your annual training hours for 2025-2026 at ANC.
Yes, all sessions that have a code listed on the training tracker grid count for professional standards AND the SNA Certificate and Credentialing programs.
SNA’s Member Section Meetings are designed to deliver targeted content based on your professional role and membership category. Every SNA member is assigned to a specific "section" that reflects their job type—such as Employee/Manager, District Director/Supervisor, Major City Director/Supervisor, or State Agency.
These meetings spotlight key topics relevant to your role and offer a valuable opportunity for discussion and networking with peers. For example, the Employee/Manager Section Meeting is consistently one of the most popular sessions at ANC.
We highly encourage all ANC attendees to participate in the section meeting that aligns with their role—it's a great way to gain insight, share experiences, and stay informed on current priorities in your field.
If asked, yes—you are welcome to attend any section meeting except the State Agency Section Meeting. Attendance at the State Agency Section Meeting and its related pre-conference is limited exclusively to state agency members.
District Directors/Supervisors Section Meeting
Sunday, July 14th | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Topic: District Directors Meet-Ups by District Size
Rooms: 225ABCD, 302ABC, 304ABC, 301ABC, 207AB
Major City Directors/Supervisors Section Meeting
Sunday, July 14th | 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Room: Hemisfair
State Agency Section Meeting / USDA Workshop
Monday, July 15th | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Rooms: 217ABCD
Employee/Manager Section Meeting
Tuesday, July 16th | 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Rooms: Hemisfair 2
Use the ANC Conference App to find sessions by topic easily. Use the search or filter tools to browse sessions that match your area of interest.
SNA is committed to targeting information, programs, and services to the needs of our members. All SNA members are assigned to a “section” based on your job and membership category. The section meetings have been designed to bring a key topic to the forefront for ANC attendees in that section. The Employee/Manager Section meeting has always been popular and well attended and the Major City Directors/Supervisors, District Directors/Supervisors, and State Agency section meetings will also include time for discussion on current priorities. We encourage all ANC attendees to attend the section meeting relevant to them.
Attendees are welcome to attend any section meeting that aligns to their interest. However, only State Agency employees are permitted to attend the State Agency section meeting.
District Directors/Supervisors Section Meeting
Sunday, July 13th, 8:00 am – 9:00 am
District Directors Meet-Ups by District Size
Less than 3,500 Students: 207AB
3,500 - 9,999 Students: 301ABC
10,000 - 24,999 Students: 302ABC
25,000 - 99,999 Students: 304ABC
100,000+ Students: 225ABCD
Major City Directors/Supervisors Section Meeting
Sunday, July 13th, 9:15 am – 10:15 am
Room(s): Hemisfair 3
State Agency Section Meeting/USDA Workshop
Monday, July 14th, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Room(s): 217ABCD
Employee/Manager Section Meeting
Tuesday, July 15th, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Room(s): Hemisfair 3
SNA updates each person’s CEU (Continuing Education Units) record with the preapproved number of CEUs for this meeting after the conference ends. SNA members will see the number of CEUs earned and recorded in SNA’s database by going to SNA’s website www.schoolnutrition.org and logging into My Account and going to My Record. The number of preapproved CEUs that will be awarded for ANC 2025 is 13.5. This exceeds the number of annual training hours required for Professional Standards.
SNA does not issue certificates of completion for conference sessions. Instead, your attendance will be recorded and reflected on your online transcript within approximately six weeks after the event.
For your personal records, you can also use the ANC 2025 Training Tracker Grid to document any pre-conference sessions you attended.
Please note that Registered Dietitians (RDNs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTRs) can no longer pick up physical certificates at the Member Services Booth. According to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the electronic Training Tracker Grid is sufficient documentation for your CDR Activity Log.
The call for proposals for ANC 2026 opens in September 2025. When it opens, please visit www.schoolnutrition.org/CFP to submit your session proposal.
Shuttle service is provided for both offsite pre-conference workshops. Shuttles will depart from outside the Main Lobby Entrance of the convention center.
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Taste the Difference workshop shuttle departs at 7:30 AM
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San Antonio Food Bank workshop shuttle departs at 12:30 PM
Please arrive at least 10–15 minutes early to ensure an on-time departure.
The Training Tracking Grid helps you record the sessions you attend at ANC25 for professional development and reporting purposes.
An electronic version is available in the ANC25 Conference App. To access it, open the app and go to:
More Menu → Session Training Tracker
RDNs/NDTRs: SNA no longer offers CPEU certificates for in-person conferences. For additional information on the CDR Professional Development Portfolio, visit the link provided. https://www.cdrnet.org/PDPGuide
RDNs/NDTRs: Please note you have the option to submit an evaluation on the quality of this conference directly to the Commission of Dietetic Registration. Email Contact: QualityCPE@eatright.org
Evaluation FAQs
Sessions can be evaluated during the conference through the ANC25 Conference App. Please ensure you add the sessions you attend to ‘My Schedule’ in the app. You do this by clicking the ‘+’ sign to the bottom right of the session in the ‘All Sessions’ tab in the Schedule section of the app. After the sessions have concluded, click on the ‘Profile’ icon on the bottom of your screen (the icon is an outline of a person) and then click on ‘Surveys.’ There will also be notifications in the app periodically throughout the conference that will link to this page for your convenience. SNA will also send you an overall evaluation survey after the conference. If you have questions about the app, please stop by the App booth, located at Registration.
To be eligible for the drawing to win an all-expense paid trip to ANC 2026, you need to evaluate at least six sessions or events using the ANC25 Conference App while you are at the conference. There is no separate entry form. The random drawing will occur on, or about, Friday, August 1st and SNA will contact the winner via email within five (5) business days. If you have questions on how to evaluate an education session you attend, visit the App booth next to ANC25 Registration. The staff there will be happy to help you.
No, your name is only entered in the drawing once. However, we encourage you to evaluate all education sessions you attend. The feedback you provide on the education sessions is useful to SNA and helps us determine the types of sessions to select for webinars and sessions at future conferences. The complete rules for the sweepstakes are available HERE.
Exhibit Hall FAQs
Over 300 companies are exhibiting in 900 booth spaces.
Rolling carts are a hazard to others who could trip and fall over them.
Children under 16 years of age cannot be allowed in the exhibit hall for liability reasons (large equipment, cooking, etc.). This is a policy common at many food shows and is for the safety of the children. NO EXCEPTIONS--STRICTLY ENFORCED. This information was stated on the registration form and in the exhibitor rules and regulations.
Please check your Exhibit Hall Map, which can be found at “locator kiosks” in the Exhibit Hall, or search on the ANC app.
We will announce winners of exhibitor prizes on the app, or you can return to the particular booth awarding the prize. SNA reminds all attendees that they should check with their school and district to ensure that prizes do not exceed the allowable gift amount and should benefit the school nutrition program.
This event is scheduled for Tuesday morning, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Access is restricted to individuals with a Director-type membership or State Agency members. Badges will be checked at the entrance for admission. You may bring one manager with you; however, this person must enter alongside you at the same time.
Each year, School Nutrition magazine assembles a group of district/school member volunteers to tell us which products on the Exhibit Hall floor were most impressive or intriguing. The results of this peer-to-peer feedback are published in the November/December issue of the magazine. Be on the lookout for more information soon!
Events FAQs
The Star Club Breakfast will be held on Monday, July 14, from 7:30-9:00 am, 217ABCD. This breakfast is a membership recruitment appreciation breakfast and is invitation only. No guests are allowed.
ANC25 will end on a high note with an unforgettable performance by LOCASH. Once dubbed “country music’s iconic feel-good duo” by PEOPLE, with over a Billion global streams and chart-topping hits like “I Love This Life” and “One Big Country Song,” LOCASH is redefining country music with their upbeat sound and heartfelt lyrics. Check out LOCASH’s performance on Good Morning America.
A ticket to the event is included in the full ANC conference registration fee. If you are bringing a guest who does not have Full Registration, you can purchase a ticket for them to attend for $100.
Your badge serves as your “ticket” and will have an icon indicating you are attending the closing event. When you arrive at the Closing Event, you may present your badge for entry. For additional tickets purchased, you will receive a wristband when you pick up your registration materials. Lost wristbands are not able to be replaced.
School Nutrition Foundation FAQs
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is the charitable arm of the School Nutrition Association, with an independent board of directors made up of school nutrition directors and industry partners.
OUR MISSION: Advancing school nutrition programs by providing resources to school nutrition professionals.
OUR VISION: Well-nourished students prepared for success.
Supporting School Nutrition Program Sustainability
Through collaboration with the School Nutrition Association, allied partners and donors, the School Nutrition Foundation is committed to:
- Identifying and supporting school nutrition research, trends and innovations
- Sharing best practices with the school nutrition community
- Providing scholarships to SNA members for professional development and continuing education
Visit our ANC25 SNF booth or our webpage, https://schoolnutrition.org/snf/, to learn more about our programs and resources.
Yes, please stop by the SNF booth to donate. A cash and/or card donation is accepted. You can also donate via the “more” menu in the conference app.
SNF Match Game cards will be handed out on Monday, July 14, the opening day of the ANC25 Exhibit Hall.
- Attendees must visit all sponsoring company booths to complete the card and be entered to win a 2026 registration to SNA’s Annual National Conference (ANC26) in Charlotte, NC.
- Drop your completed card at the SNF Booth (across from registration) in the match game drop box.
This year, 10 (ten) SNA members who submit their game card will receive 1 (one) free registration* for ANC26 in Charlotte, NC! Playing is easy, just complete the SNF Match Game card by visiting all sponsoring company booths, obtain a signature from the booth host at each location, and return your card to be entered to win! Game cards will be available on Monday, July 14th, in the ANC25 Exhibit Hall.
For complete rules and regulations, visit: https://anc.schoolnutrition.org/about/sweepstakes/
*Registration only and does not include land transportation, airfare, meals, hotel accommodations or any other expenses. Contest open to current SNA members ONLY. No purchase necessary. Non-transferable. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.
SNF offers scholarships and grants to support education, conference attendance, and kitchen equipment for SNA members. To learn more about specific scholarships, visit the SNF booth at ANC or visit our scholarship web page: www.schoolnutrition.org/scholarships.
The Annual Fund is a way for SNA members to support the Foundation each year in its efforts to provide education, research, and scholarships for SNA members. Contributions to the Annual Fund are tax-deductible and can be made in memory or in honor of another person(s).
The SNF Annual Fund provides support to the Foundation to provide education, research, and scholarships for SNA members. Contributions are tax-deductible.
SNA-PAC is a political action committee that supports SNA’s political goals by collecting money from people who share these goals and making contributions to political candidates who support these goals. Contributions to PAC are not tax-deductible.
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) provides School Nutrition Association (SNA) members with the opportunity to attend SNA’s Annual National Conference (ANC). This year, SNF will award forty-five (45) scholarships to SNA members to help them offset the costs of attending ANC25 in San Antonio, TX. Only one (1) scholarship will be awarded per recipient, and scholarships range from $500 to $1,400.
Learn more about the ANC25 scholarship recipients here.
This year, the School Nutrition Foundation has partnered with six fun and fabulous businesses that have generously agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from ANC attendees' sales to SNF.
How it Works:
Check out the details:
- Mention “I’m with SNF” when ordering or making a purchase
- Enjoy your purchase that gives back!
- Dates vary, so check out the details here and make a plan to shop or dine while making a difference.
