UNews - Aramark

U of L Food Services cooking up some tasty changes

caroline.zentner — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 15:32:11 +0000

Traders in the Middle East once crafted all kinds of tall tales to keep the source of their cinnamon a secret.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Food Services is taking the lid off of its own cinnamon secret with the opening of Cinnamon Café in Markin Hall on Sept. 3.

The café will serve Starbucks coffee, freshly baked cinnamon buns, cinnamon twists and other delicious treats that won’t be found anywhere else on campus.

Urban Market, scheduled to re-open Aug. 30, has implemented some improvements over the summer, including a new salad bar and a new ordering system. Other areas have been re-organized to make for a better dining experience.

In addition, more tables and electrical outlets with USB ports have been added in the seating area. The data and electrical sockets can be found along the windows under the brown edging.

The Subway and Starbucks kiosks will again be open for business starting Sept. 3.

Everyone is encouraged to stop by the Food Services table at the New Student Orientation on Sept. 2 for free goodies and the chance to win a prize.

Aramark will also have an expanded social media presence as it moves to Instagram and Twitter. Follow @ULethFood to stay up-to-date with specials, hours of operation and contests. To share your feedback, send a Tweet to @HearMeAramark.

Aramark readying for changeover

trevor.kenney — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:17:18 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge food services begins a new chapter May 1, 2013 when Aramark Higher Education officially joins the U of L community.

Marking the most transformative food services change at the U of L in 30 years, the introduction of Aramark as the new food provider is the culmination of a comprehensive and consultative review of food services on the Lethbridge campus.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge prides itself on the experience it offers its students," says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. "We recognize that food quality is critical to that experience, and we are thrilled that our campus community will be provided with a variety of high-quality food options for the foreseeable future."

A number of renovations are planned over the summer to accommodate the significant changes that Aramark will bring to campus, all focused on taking the campus dining experience for students, faculty and staff to a new level.

"We are excited to begin serving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community," says Jeff Marcellus of Aramark as his company begins a 10-year agreement with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. "Our goal is to enhance the dining environment and experience for students, faculty and staff, and to build partnerships across the campus community."

Tim Hortons will be the first location to open under Aramark's leadership on May 1 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. This will continue to be a full Tim Hortons that will offer everything from classic hot beverages and donuts to sandwiches and chili.

A fully renovated dining hall, a convenience food outlet, a full Starbucks, Subway and an Express Tim Hortons will open at other campus locations in the fall.

The change to the current ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall dining hall will be significant as Aramark transforms the space into the Urban Market, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Renovations include the installation of a flat top grill, pizza oven, entrée station, deli and a build-your-own salad bar, soup and coffee station. An artist's concept drawing is attached for reference.

Further down ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, a Subway, connected to another Tim Hortons will be introduced. This Tim Hortons will be an express location, offering hot beverages and bakery items.

In Markin Hall, a convenient food outlet that will offer an assortment of grab 'n' go items including "We Proudly Serve Starbucks" coffee, bakery, soup, snacks and cold beverages, will remain. The Express menu will also include items such as sandwiches, salads, snackers, fruit and veggie cups and yogurt parfait cups.

The final addition to campus is a full Starbucks location in the space formerly occupied by Mr. Sub (directly across from Security Services and the Helen Christou Gallery on the walkway to the Library). This location will offer everything patrons expect from Starbucks, including a full food and beverage menu as well as a seating area for studying or just meeting up with friends.

Restaurant makeover

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:51:11 +0000

Food plays a major role in our lives. Far more than just providing sustenance, the food we eat and the meals we share help establish a culture, frame our celebrations and serve as a common ground. Breaking bread shapes who we are.

Jim Booth, executive director of Ancillary Services, recognizes that, and he also is keenly aware that food services at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have been lacking.
"Food service is a gap right now in the student experience being offered by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Booth. "It needs to go from mediocre to great – we need that wow factor."

To that end, for the first time in 30 years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has extended a Request for Proposal (RFP) to three food service providers as it looks to completely overhaul its delivery of catering and food services.

"We strive to be a destination university and the student experience on campus is paramount to achieving that goal," says Booth. "Food services touches everybody multiple times in a day. It can make your day or it can ruin your day."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is ready to take its food services to a new level and has entered the marketplace in search of a provider that will meet the contemporary needs of today.

Sodexo, and its previous incarnations, has been the sole food service provider to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since 1982, and over the course of the last 30 years, its relationship with the U of L community has seen both ups and downs.

"That continual service I think has served us well," says Booth. "I think it's been a good partnership, but this past 24 months has been a real challenge and they've had great difficulty in getting the right people, the right leadership to achieve the consistency of service and quality we require, whether it was in retail or catering services."

Booth initiated an expression of interest to feel out the food services marketplace and found several providers eager to come to campus. After reviewing initial proposals, an invitation-only RFP was sent out to Aramark, Chartwells and the incumbent provider, Sodexo.

"It's time for us to revisit how we deliver food services to our campus community," says Booth. "Looking forward to the next 10 years and beyond, we need someone who can keep things fresh and edgy. What we are faced with today is a need to differentiate ourselves. It is all about the experience and we need a partner that can deliver that experience."

And while the RFP is a nuts and bolts logistical document, Booth intends to mesh that with community feedback gleaned from a series of surveys and World Cafés that will be initiated later this month.

"In the past, we've had surveys that asked the transactional questions and we've responded by changing menus and so forth, but we've never really thought beyond that," says Booth. "This is about defining our culture, about finding what is unique to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and how food services relates to our strategic goals and priorities. If we get the right partner, our food services will fully mesh with that thinking, which will make them very successful and will also help us create that student experience we desire."

A total of three World Cafés will be held, Sept. 25 (9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m.) and Sept. 26 (9 a.m. to noon), in the Students' Union Ballroom A. Sessions will be open to anyone interested in attending, including students, staff and faculty. Another dedicated to residence students and those individuals who primarily use the catering services is also planned.

As well, surveys targeting the general ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, residence students and catering clients, will take place the weeks of Sept. 24 and Oct. 1.

"This is our opportunity to really sit down and discuss what food services can and should be at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Booth. "This will add the colour and flavor of our institution to these organizations and how they interpret the results and how they respond will be critical."

Following the close of the RFP on Oct. 25, a committee will review the submissions from the competing service providers throughout the month of November. A new contract will be signed on May 1, 2013, allowing for a summer transition and training period before a soft launch and then full launch of new services in the fall when students return to campus.

"It comes down to people and to leadership," says Booth of who will win the contract. "It also comes down to having individuals that are a part of our community and consider this a partnership – they have to be as committed to the student experience as we are."

GET THE FACTS

· Booth estimates the new food services contract to be worth $40 to $50 million over its 10-year course

· Part of the new contract will require the service provider to bring in capital dollars for renovations of food service areas

· Some of the challenges facing food service providers include responding to individual dietary needs such as food allergies and sensitivities, meeting the demands of an ever-growing international student segment, incorporating local brands and presenting healthier eating alternatives

· To take part in the World Café sessions, contact foodservicesrfp@uleth.ca

This story first appeared in the September 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Aramark

U of L Food Services cooking up some tasty changes

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