New sister brand to Zee Zees debuts at SNA's Annual National Conference with the Meatball for All as its hero product line.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 12, 2026) — Zee Kitchen, a new K–12 foodservice brand built to bring fresh creativity to the center of the cafeteria tray, officially launched today at the School Nutrition Association's Annual National Conference (ANC) in Charlotte, Booth #1803. A new brand from National Food Group, Zee Kitchen extends the kid-first thinking of the Zee Zees brand into center-tray and bulk solutions designed for real school kitchens.
Leading the launch is the Meatball for All, a halal-friendly chicken meatball line offered in Original, Taco, and Buffalo, built to meet K–12 meal pattern requirements and credit as 2 M/MA per serving.
“Zee Kitchen builds naturally on everything we've created so far,” said Jim Moore, President of National Food Group. “We've spent years earning the confidence of schools through Zee Zees, and Zee Kitchen is how our team carries that trust into the center of the tray. This launch is only possible because of the credibility Zee Zees has built and the strength of the team behind the brands.”
Zee Kitchen and Zee Zees are sister brands that play different parts on the tray. Zee Zees brings the flavor-forward snacks kids love, and Zee Kitchen anchors the meal, together giving operators a fuller range of solutions from scratch to speed scratch to no-prep.
“Zee Kitchen opens up a whole new way to serve our customers, which is a real win for operators and kids alike,” said Kelly Smythe, Chief Sales Officer at National Food Group. “It runs on the same sales relationships our team has built for years and gives them more ways to say yes to operators. This is real, incremental growth, and it's complementary to everything we already do with Zee Zees.”
The brand's inclusive-by-design approach spans halal-friendly, gluten-free, and allergen-conscious solutions, all built to help more students feel the meal was made for them. It also meets a simple truth: what's at the center of the tray often decides whether a kid opts in that day.
“The entrée is the make-or-break moment. Kids look at what's at the center of the tray, and that's what decides whether they say yes to lunch that day,” said Tara Sharpe, K–12 Sales Director at National Food Group. “With Zee Kitchen, we finally get to be part of that yes. When the tray looks this fun, participation follows.”
Zee Kitchen launches alongside Zee Zees' new Chicken Meat Sticks at ANC 2026, part of an immersive booth experience. Both debut July 12th – 14th at the Charlotte Convention Center.
To learn more, visit zeezees.com zeekitchen.com or stop by Booth #1803 at ANC 2026.
