CulinarySuite vs Illumia (formerly CBORD) vs MealSuite
CulinarySuite is web-based operations software for institutional foodservice: schools, hospitals, senior living, universities, corrections and foodservice management companies. Illumia is the new name of the company formed from Transact and CBORD, now sold under one brand. MealSuite is foodservice software for senior living and healthcare communities. All three are listed under School, Hospital & Contract Food Service. The main differences are in audience.
Key differences
audience
Audience differs between the profiles. Listed by one product alone: CulinarySuite: K-12 school nutrition programs; Illumia (formerly CBORD): University dining programs; MealSuite: Senior living and skilled nursing communities.
Side by side
| Field | CulinarySuite | Illumia (formerly CBORD) | MealSuite |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | CulinarySuite is web-based operations software for institutional foodservice: schools, hospitals, senior living, universities, corrections and foodservice management companies. | Illumia is the new name of the company formed from Transact and CBORD, now sold under one brand. | MealSuite is foodservice software for senior living and healthcare communities. |
| Best for | K-12 school nutrition programs; Hospitals and senior living; Foodservice management companies; Universities and corporate dining | University dining programs; Hospitals and health systems; Senior living communities | Senior living and skilled nursing communities; Hospitals and acute care; Multi-community operators |
| Pricing model | Quote only | Quote only | Quote only |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Free trial | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Contract | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Web |
| Countries | Not published | Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, United States | Australia, Canada, United States |
| Languages | Not published | Not published | English |
| Number of integrations | Not published | 4 | 18 |
| Certifications | HIPAA | Not published | SOC 2 Type 2 |
| Security practices | ADA-compliant web and mobile versions of CD MealPlanner, Privacy and Information Security Policy (no certification named) | Not published | Not published |
| Founded | Not published | Not published | 1989 |
| Headquarters | New York, United States | Not published | Dallas, United States |
| Owner | Fulcrum Digital (Fulcrum Group) | Roper Technologies (the company has been part of Roper Technologies since 2024) | Not published |
| Last reviewed | 29 September 2026 | 29 September 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Integrations
No partner appears in every list.
Named only by CulinarySuite
CulinarySuite does not name any integrations in the material we reviewed.
Named only by Illumia (formerly CBORD)
- Allegion
- Assa Abloy
- Ellucian
- Genea
Named only by MealSuite
- AlisQI
- American Data
- Azalea Health
- Cerner
- Crunchtime
- Epic
- GFS
- HCS
- LifeLoop
- MatrixCare
- Meditech
- Netsmart myUnity
and 6 moreshow fewer
- PeopleSoft
- PFG
- PointClickCare
- Sysco Canada
- US Foods
- Yardi
Which to choose
CulinarySuite
Choose CulinarySuite if you are in one of these groups: K-12 school nutrition programs; Hospitals and senior living; Foodservice management companies.
Weaker fit: Independent or commercial restaurants. The vendor positions the product for institutional foodservice (schools, healthcare, corrections, senior living, campus and corporate dining), not for commercial restaurants.
Illumia (formerly CBORD)
Choose Illumia (formerly CBORD) if you fit its listed audience: University dining programs; Hospitals and health systems; Senior living communities.
MealSuite
Choose MealSuite if you are in one of these groups: Senior living and skilled nursing communities; Hospitals and acute care; Multi-community operators.
Weaker fit: Ordinary restaurants and school kitchens. The vendor's FAQ positions MealSuite as built for healthcare and senior living rather than for restaurants or schools.
What we could not confirm
CulinarySuite
- Any price or plan tiers (quote only)
- Named integrations
- Founding year, funding and employee count
- Countries served and interface languages
- Security certifications
- Contract term and renewal
- Current pricing details
Illumia (formerly CBORD)
- Pricing and contract terms
- Founding year and headquarters of the combined company (CBORD founding not stated)
- Security certifications (trust center is on a separate domain)
- Interface languages
- Hardware requirements
- Full partner list
- Current CEO: the about page quotes Greg Brown as CEO while the leadership page lists Laura Newell-McLaughlin, so no CEO is stated
MealSuite
- Any price, plan, trial or contract term
- Legal entity name and registration
- Funding and employee count
- Whether a native mobile app exists (the portal is described as an app for phones and tablets)
- Which countries MealSuite is sold in beyond its office locations
Go further
Other comparisons with these products
Sources
Facts on this page come from the pages below. Prices and features change, so confirm with each vendor before you buy.
CulinarySuite, reviewed 29 September 2026
- Product page, modules, industrieshttps://culinarydigital.com/culinarysuite/
- CD MealPlannerhttps://culinarydigital.com/mealplanner/
- Company purpose and leadershiphttps://culinarydigital.com/about/
- Case study indexhttps://culinarydigital.com/case-studies/
- Case study: modules and outcomeshttps://culinarydigital.com/case-studies/culinarysuite-spurs-revenue-spike-for-top-20-foodservice-organization/
- Whitsons partnership, CD Signagehttps://culinarydigital.com/news/culinary-digital-and-whitsons-partner-to-launch-cafe-connections/
- Fulcrum Group parent, CEOhttps://culinarydigital.com/news/ian-worden-new-culinary-digital-ceo/
- Security policyhttps://culinarydigital.com/information-security-policy/
- Legal entity namehttps://culinarydigital.com/terms-conditions/
Illumia (formerly CBORD), reviewed 29 September 2026
- homehttps://illumiatech.com
- /abouthttps://illumiatech.com/about
- /about/becoming-illumiahttps://illumiatech.com/about/becoming-illumia
- /solutions/higher-education/food-nutrition-dining-serviceshttps://illumiatech.com/solutions/higher-education/food-nutrition-dining-services
- /solutions/healthcare/food-nutrition-dining-serviceshttps://illumiatech.com/solutions/healthcare/food-nutrition-dining-services
- /solutions/senior-living/food-nutrition-dining-serviceshttps://illumiatech.com/solutions/senior-living/food-nutrition-dining-services
- /solutions/healthcare/commercehttps://illumiatech.com/solutions/healthcare/commerce
- /partnershttps://illumiatech.com/partners
- /partners/ellucianhttps://illumiatech.com/partners/ellucian
- /resources/case-studieshttps://illumiatech.com/resources/case-studies
- /contact-ushttps://illumiatech.com/contact-us
MealSuite, reviewed 29 September 2026
- Homepage, customers, officeshttps://www.mealsuite.com
- Product suite and hardwarehttps://www.mealsuite.com/products
- Integrationshttps://www.mealsuite.com/partners
- Company and CEOhttps://www.mealsuite.com/who-we-are
- Positioning and fithttps://www.mealsuite.com/faq
- TOUCH hardware and softwarehttps://www.mealsuite.com/touch-foodservice-software
- Purchasing and forecastinghttps://www.mealsuite.com/products/recipes-menus-procurement/reducing-food-costs
- SOC 2 and founding yearhttps://www.mealsuite.com/press-room/mealsuite-successfully-completes-soc-2-audit
- Support hours and officeshttps://www.mealsuite.com/customer-support
- Customer case studyhttps://www.mealsuite.com/success-stories/amica-senior-living-pos-revenue-increase