As the fall 2024 semester opens, college students look for a
seamless integration of their tech-driven society with their
yearning for a simpler life—a nostalgia trend that is shaping how
they interact with those around them. In response, Aramark (NYSE:
ARMK) is meeting these students where they are this fall:
Collegiate Hospitality blends high-tech efficiency with tangible,
wellness focused programs to bridge these needs while also creating
classic, in-person opportunities for a human touch.
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As the fall 2024 semester opens, college
students look for a seamless integration of their tech-driven
society with their yearning for a simpler life—a nostalgia trend
that is shaping how they interact with those around them. In
response, Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) is meeting these students where they
are this fall: Collegiate Hospitality blends high-tech efficiency
with tangible, wellness focused programs to bridge these needs
while also creating classic, in-person opportunities for a human
touch. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We know that students are existing in an emotional paradox
right now, based on our broad-based consumer insights,” said Jack
Donovan, President and CEO of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality.
“Nostalgia for what they perceive as simpler times is changing the
way they approach their hospitality experience on campus. At the
same time, they are steeped in technology that is integrated in all
that they do. Our constant monitoring of student sentiment and
satisfaction on campuses allows us to find unique, creative ways to
build an ecosystem of hospitality that prioritizes authentic
interaction.”
Collegiate Hospitality’s campus partnership is not only about
nutritious meals and warm dining experiences, but it is also about
providing potentially life-shaping programs that help campus
programs to shine. Many colleges and university have deep
relationships with our operations on campus, and Aramark welcomes
opportunities to give students hands-on, long-term job skills and
career pathways in the form of management programs or as interns
and externs.
Additionally, Aramark is committed to providing career showcases
and highlighting the exciting gamut of career paths that exist in
the hospitality industry. In today’s world, practical experience
and networking opportunities drive post-graduation success. At
times, this looks like broader community engagement, and for
campuses across the nation, this looks like participating in highly
influential student advisory groups like the Council of Student
Advisors and HBCU Emerging Leaders.
“What sets Aramark Collegiate Hospitality apart is its
insight-driven attention to the whole student, the whole campus
atmosphere, and the whole community experience,” said Donovan.
“These partnerships are a win-win all around: campuses see students
engaging and we help students find a passion for hospitality.”
Tangible Touchpoints for the Whole Student
This dedication to the whole student provides a true path to
hospitality. To do this, Collegiate Hospitality has developed a
vast library of programs, resources, and menus to meet students in
comfort and health.
Students will find ever expanding allergen-friendly options on
campus; Aramark Collegiate Hospitality has unveiled a new pantry
concept that augments its already significant work in dietary
safety. The stress less zone™ provides additional foods for guests
who have an allergy to gluten, peanuts, and/or tree nuts. This
section, or zone, of the service area is dedicated solely to foods
that meet strict guidelines and for which the manufacturer can
confidently and legitimately claim the food is free from gluten,
peanuts, and tree nuts. Except for select products—like sliced
bread or breakfast cereals—all the zone offerings are in their
original, unopened packaging. Guests can review the product
ingredients clearly listed on the product label, and they can see
brand names they know and trust.
“We strive to create a personalized dining experience for our
students to navigate and flourish with at their campus home,” said
Theresa Butler, Collegiate Hospitality Vice President for Student
Experience. “We take our survey results and consequent trends
identification very seriously, and it leads us to build hospitality
programs that our community wants and that reward those who enjoy
sharing meals with us.”
Beginning in the fall semester, Collegiate Hospitality will also
offer a new customer engagement and loyalty program, Dining
Rewards, to all students, faculty, and staff. Dining Rewards
provides exclusive perks and benefits including birthday gifts,
targeted promotional offers, and discounts on select programs. All
the program requires is a simple email subscription via the dining
website.
There is also a constant evolution of nutritious and sustainable
menus—low carbon meals have been embraced by students, and
commitments like these have driven recognition of Aramark as a
leader in ecologically friendly dining. Students continue to
indicate that they are very interested in menu choice, embracing
flexitarian attitudes and an openness to plant-forward dining.
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s management team at Drexel
University has partnered with Drexel Solutions Institute and Drexel
Food Lab, a culinary innovation and food product research and
development center housed within the University’s College of
Nursing and Health Professions. The Food Lab focuses on solving
real-world food system challenges and applies culinary arts and
science to improve the health of people, the planet, and economies.
Drexel researchers are evaluating the impact of introducing menu
items that further reduce carbon emissions while enhancing the
guest’s culinary experience. In addition to menu innovations made
by the Aramark team at Drexel, researchers collected a variety of
data produced from a series of tests and interventions to determine
the impact these modified menus had on consumer behaviors and
satisfaction. Results of this study will be published this
fall.
Technological Solutions for Today’s Students
Aramark is leveraging artificial intelligence to help students
navigate the wealth of campus dining information available to them.
Students can simply turn to Collegiate Hospitality’s chatbot—SAM—an
enhanced virtual assistant on CampusDish websites. SAM can answer
questions about dining and meal plans as well as direct users to
the appropriate person or resource if additional information is
needed.
Collegiate Hospitality is also removing friction from the
convenience store shopping experience at campuses across the
country. Whether students are shopping via self-checkout devices
that leverage computer vision to instantly price a student’s basket
or fully autonomous stores that utilize a combination of cameras
and sensors, technology allows the location to operate 24 x 7,
bringing access to the next level.
“When it is at its best, technology fits seamlessly into
students' lives while simultaneously improving the experience by
making things more tailored or more convenient," said Jonathan
Duffy, Vice President of Technology and Innovation for Collegiate
Hospitality. “One of students’ most precious commodities is time.
These tech-driven solutions allow students to get the information
and food that they need whenever they need it.”
An added benefit to the technology is that it adds to the human
interaction and relationship building that Aramark Collegiate
Hospitality prioritizes. The chatbot and the convenience store
technology allows employees to not be behind a point of sale or
behind a computer but to be available in the store or in the dining
hall to interact with students.
About Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality is a premier provider for
hospitality ecosystems in higher education, renowned for its
commitment to the whole student and enhancing student life through
exceptional culinary experiences and innovative dining solutions.
With a presence in more than 275 colleges and universities,
Collegiate Hospitality uses data driven consumer insights to curate
experiences to meet the unique needs of each campus, fostering a
vibrant community with diverse and inclusive dining offerings. This
intentional integration of campus identity, world class
hospitality, and professional opportunity provides a foundational
path to student success. Connect with Collegiate Hospitality on
LinkedIn.
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of
“World’s Most Admired Companies,” The Civic 50 by Points of Light
2024, Fair360’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies
for Black Executives,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most
Responsible Companies 2024,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for
LGBTQ Equality,” and earned a score of 100 on the Disability
Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us
on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240812506847/en/
Heather Dotchel, dotchel-heather@aramark.com, 215-264-2112
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