We are pleased to introduce the first issue of Spark, our recently rebranded client magazine. This annual publication highlights Sodexo’s on-trend, healthy, and innovative dining programs, augmented with an exciting lineup of student-engaging promotions to encourage socialization on campus.
Sharing meals is one of the most popular ways students connect and meet new friends. As we enter a new year, we are excited to feature four new resident dining promotions to improve student satisfaction, health, and resiliency. For the fall, Celebrating the 90s presents a fabulous opportunity to revisit a fun decade, while All Checks Out gives students “certifiable” enjoyment in the form of delicious and healthy dishes, fun activities, and plenty of relationship-building opportunities. In the spring, our Now Boarding and Opposites Attract promotions instill a sense of adventure with students through virtual travel and an exhilarating exploration of campus culture, community, and cuisine. Each promotion includes a signature engagement activity that’s intended to spark students’ interaction with others through unique events and phenomenal food.
Julie Pfeifer, Vice President Growth & Consumer Experience Marketing Sodexo Campus
Our Spark Strategy continues to grow in prominence with our accounts developing grassroots efforts to encourage student engagement, togetherness, and a sense of belonging. This year, in support of our strategy, we are introducing four new mixer-style events created specifically to promote socialization and inclusiveness. Meet Our Mascot, Pastime Pursuit, FRESHtival, and Be the Spark capitalize on current trends with Gen Z while offering students a relaxing and informal way to mix, mingle, make new friends, and enjoy delicious food.
Thank you for being a valued Sodexo partner. We appreciate your support of our marketing programs and promotions and for helping us “spark” socialization and togetherness on campuses nationwide.
Best wishes for a rewarding and successful academic year,
The last few years have resulted in a seismic shift in students’ lives, including increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and isolation. As a leader in campus dining, Sodexo’s Spark Strategy continues to positively impact student socialization and engagement, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness on campus.
Spark focuses on addressing the unique challenges that today’s students face by helping them develop friendships, resulting in a powerful support system. This support system proves invaluable during challenging times.
As the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Campus & Government Services across North America, Drew Nannis shared his perspective: “Sodexo interacts with countless students on campuses across the United States and Canada every day, allowing us to engage with them on a personal level, identify their wants and needs, and be responsive and innovative in meeting those needs. Spark is one of the essential ways we do this, helping us to nurture relationships, create positive student outcomes, and enhance the student experience.”
Our Spark engagement strategy is supported by a collection of events and activities our accounts can use throughout the year to help build community and promote student socialization. These resources function as an extension of the dining program and range from meet-and-greet mixers to community dining tables to change-inspiring commitments where students will be asked to “be the spark” to better their campus and community.
Watch for more Spark updates throughout the year as we continue to amplify your dining service’s role as a hub of socialization while reinforcing our commitment to all things culinary, culture, and community on campus.
Our operators have enthusiastically embraced the Spark Strategy and are diligently working to increase student socialization and togetherness on campuses nationwide. Some examples of these efforts include:
A food-filled Community Table Mystery Basket Dinner helped students pave the way to building new friendships at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.
The invitation-only event gathered a select group of students to enjoy a delicious meal in the faculty dining room while building relationships with other students. As part of the dinner invitation, students were asked to select one recipe ingredient they loved or associated with home and family. Master Chef Andre Jacquet then used these suggested ingredients to prepare a luscious three-course, family-style meal that showcased something for everyone.
Sodexo Marketing Manager Shana Cleveland had many icebreaker activities ready to encourage conversation during the dinner. The students quickly became comfortable with each other as they shared stories and fond food memories behind their suggested ingredients.
This Mystery Basket Dinner was no mystery as students had exchanged contact information by the end of the night and had already established new friendships.
What’s the best way to develop fun and meaningful opportunities for students to connect? Ask them. That’s what the dining services team at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, TN, did when they set out to create a sense of belonging on campus.
The team reached out to several APSU campus clubs (including the Korean Culture Club, Latino Resource Community, and Black Student Union, among others) to assist in developing food-focused, student-driven events that would allow students to make new friends, explore other cultures, and even sample a taste of home.
The result was an impressive array of engaging events and activities that helped students relax, refresh, and enjoy the moment. From Food-ology Jeopardy to Bingo Night to a surprise offering of Chef Patrick’s signature bibimbap dish (a student favorite), these fun and interactive experiences sparked student participation and togetherness.
Augmenting these events are equally impressive national celebrations like National Popcorn Day, where students could dive into a popcorn bar featuring brown sugar, hot Cajun butter, and salty popcorn flavors; and National Peanut Butter Day, complete with an “appearance” by Elvis, peanut butter sandwiches, and a large serving of rock ’n’ roll history. Thanks to these creative efforts and student input, friendships are soaring at APSU.
Holidays and other notable dates are usually associated with fun times, delicious food, and fond memories. For students, they also represent an excellent opportunity to take a break from the day-to-day stress of campus life and enjoy something different while making new friends.
The dining services team at Arkansas State University in Union, AR, used the festive occasion of Mardi Gras to bring students together to celebrate the Big Easy’s iconic events. Students were treated to upbeat jazz favorites as they danced throughout the dining hall, enjoying delicious Mardi Gras-themed foods, mocktails, and more.
Blossoming friendships could be seen as students were having fun together, grabbing strings of colorful beads, sharing luscious mocktails, and snapping pics in front of a custom Mardi Gras background. Events like these continue to spark a sense of belonging and togetherness on campuses nationwide.
“The coming year will significantly emphasize the increased implementation of our Spark Strategy. This emphasis includes a pivotal focus on reaching more students, reducing their stress and anxiety, and helping to create a sense of togetherness through engaging events and activities.”
— Drew Nannis, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sodexo Campus & Government,North America
One of the outreach resources reinforcing our Spark Strategy is Forever Friends, a signature event designed to showcase the relationships formed on campus in which dining services played a role in initiating. From freshman acquaintances who grew to become best friends to campus romances that resulted in lifelong partnerships, Forever Friends shines the spotlight on campus dining’s role in building friendships and lasting relationships.
At the heart of Forever Friends are campus connections, inspiring friendships, and lasting relationships. Key to the event’s success is the gathering of great stories to be shared. Scan this QR code to see how easy we’ve made it for students to share their Forever Friends stories.
Paul Levy once said, “Eating together is a form of expression that offers a moment of delight, relaxation, adventure, surprise, self-discovery, and romance.”
No truer words have been spoken to which I can attest.
No one plans to fall in love while eating on campus, but sometimes, the universe has a bigger plan that involves food.
During my undergraduate years at the State University of New York at New Paltz, I spent many mealtimes at the Student Union Building (SUB) cafė since it was a convenient walk from my residence hall. One chilly autumn day, a friend of a friend introduced Michael (1992 New Paltz Grad) to me while we were in line at one of the food stations.
“Nice to meet you,” Michael said. “It’s a cold one today...let me get you a sand- wich and some soup.” Who could resist an offer of great food and the chance to meet someone new?
The SUB cafė became a frequent meeting spot as we shared stories and countless laughs over many hearty meals. Before you knew it, our friendship blossomed into romance. Day after day, you could find us enjoying romantic dinners on campus at the Top of the Tower restaurant.
Many years (and meals) later, we’re still sharing stories and laughs over great food, but now, as a married couple!
The lesson from all of this? Sometimes, you need to listen to the universe — you never know what plan it has for you.
Marni Schribman 1992 SUNY New Paltz Grad & Sodexo Campus Employee
Experience has shown that dining services are essential to furthering campus engagement. From meeting students’ diverse dietary needs to creating a welcoming environment that promotes socialization, dining services embody campus life’s spirit and culture.
Reinforcing our Spark Strategy throughout the coming academic year will be a host of relationship-building events our dining teams will use to ignite a sense of friendship, togetherness, and memorable experiences on campus.
According to a report by Campus Sonar, athletics programs hold a clear advantage regarding audience (student) positivity and should be capitalized on to build campus pride and spirit. And there’s nothing more associated with athletics than the campus’s mascot.
Meet Our Mascot is a way to spark student connections through an informal dining mixer where your school’s fun-loving mascot is the guest of honor. Students can meet, greet, mingle, and munch with your colorful character — up close and personal. Engaging activities and delicious food will create excitement as everyone celebrates the qualities that make your campus unique.
The highlight of this event will be the Mug It Up With Our Mascot Challenge, where students can post pics with their mascot on their favorite social media platforms, using a unique hashtag to get the event trending nationwide.
Lifelong friendships often begin by sharing common interests with other like-minded people. From sports and shopping to gaming and gardening, we enjoy our favorite activities with friends and family. And it’s no different with students.
A focus of our Spark Strategy is to promote socialization and new relationships on campus. A Common Bonds Bulletin Board is central to this effort, allowing students to post messages, share their common interests, and communicate with like-minded people.
Pastime Pursuit is a spirited meet-and-greet event to celebrate the launch of a Common Bonds Bulletin Board in campus dining. It’s a fun and informal gathering where students can mix and mingle, kicking off communication by enjoying delicious food in great company.
“Promotions are really the spark that makes a dining program come alive. Great food and friendly service are key, but amazing experiences matter more than ever for today’s student.”
— DaveTrombetta, Director Growth & Consumer Experience Marketing, Sodexo Campus
image of Freshtival logo
Spring is symbolic of a new beginning in many ways. Milder temperatures inspire everyone to exercise more and eat healthier, including foods featuring fresh ingredients. What better way to battle the winter doldrums than by celebrating spring with a bounty of wholesome and flavorful produce — welcome to FRESHtival!
Think of FRESHtival as a springtime farmer’s market. This mixer-style event is designed to allow students to sample seasonally inspired items, fresh menu creations, and flavorful plant-based options while making new friends. Easy to implement with maximum flexibility, FRESHtival can range from promoting “fresh” menu items at existing food stations to creating an entire farmer’s market showcasing local produce, seasonal menu selections, unique food samplings, and information displays. i
mage of Be the spark logo
Gen Z is one of the most progressive, socially minded generations of our time and they often take the lead on social issues impacting their lives. Many of your students lead the way to a better tomorrow, from the environment to mental health to food security.
Be the Spark is a meet-and-greet event created to unite students in support of various causes and charities dedicated to improving life on campus and in the community. This informal and relaxing get-together allows students to make new friends while learning how to “be the spark” to better everyday life — all while enjoying delicious food and great company.
An essential feature of this event is the Make a Pledge To Be the Spark Challenge, where students will hold Be the Spark pledge cards while snapping a selfie and posting it to their favorite social media platforms. Using a unique hashtag, students will also be invited to comment how they intend to better their campus and community.
From fun with their school’s mascot to committing to “be the spark” that ignites support for worthy causes locally and globally, it’s clear that the coming year of new events will be exciting, engaging, and endearing.
When it comes to campus dining, satisfying today’s students is no longer just about serving great food. It involves creating the right mix of a welcoming environment, quality on-trend food, and an engaging staff that furthers a culture of inclusiveness and socialization. Meeting Gen Z’s constantly evolving dining preferences and expectations is challenging, but doing so results in several significant benefits for the program and the campus, including increased student engagement, enhanced recruitment, improved retention, and the elevation of the overall quality of campus life
These outcomes and our overarching Spark Strategy guide us in developing our signature resident dining promotions. Packed with creative relationship-building activities, our four promotional events feature exciting themes complemented by delicious and nutritious foods that satisfy students’ adventuresome palates. These promotions offer students a fun, food-focused dining experience to share with old and new friends throughout the academic year.
Our resident dining promotions provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the inclusiveness, versatility, and creative spirit of our campus dining programs.
“I love immersive and experiential learning experiences such as Kitchen Academy and Perfect Palates. Not only do these offers bring people together for the common goal of creating life skills, but they empower them to create their own environments that bring people together for a sense of belonging and community.”
— Rich Blanchard, Director Growth & Consumer Experience Marketing, Sodexo Campus
Our fall 2024 promotion lineup includes two entertaining food-related experiences with something for everyone. Celebrating the 90s invites students to revisit a decade known for phenomenal food, fun, and the debut of the World Wide Web (www).
And speaking of the World Wide Web, All Checks Out showcases the popularity of the internet and social media platforms and their massive appeal to students, especially the self-proclaimed foodies on campus. From TikTok cuisine to Instagramable creations to social “feed-ia” dishes of all shapes and sizes, this promotion is guaranteed to be a sensationally satisfying flavor journey.
Spring 2025 offers students the thrill of adventure, at least from a culinary perspective. Now Boarding allows students to sightsee and taste-travel to fabulous food destinations without leaving campus. At the same time, Opposites Attract represents a promotional paradox as the unexpected interconnectedness of seemingly opposing flavors perfectly blends to create fabulously delicious dishes.
All four resident dining promotions inspire socialization while treating students to unique themed events with great food, fun activities, and imaginative adventure.
It’s human nature to want to win something for free. The thrill of winning a prize, regardless of its value, feeds everyone’s ego and contributes to our self-worth. That’s why promotional sweepstakes are a popular and effective consumer engagement activity for brands looking to grow market presence, boost awareness, and ultimately increase sales.
For several years, Sodexo has featured national sweepstakes as part of our resident dining promotions to reward students for their continued loyalty, increase interaction with the dining program, and provide a means for students to give back to charities or community programs important to them — a win-win-win for everyone.
FALL 2024
Students can use their $575 Visa gift card prize to share some gratitude and “grati-food” with old friends and new by hosting a campus cookout or other similar activity. They will also have the chance to share the joy of winning when they select a food-related charity (including a campus food pantry) to receive a $1,250 donation to help those in need. SPRING
A “Far-Away Soirée” delivered to hometown homies is just one of the ways winning students can use their $575 Visa gift card prize to stay connected with family and friends both near and far. Our lucky winners will also have the chance to share the joy of winning when they select a food-related charity (including a campus food pantry) to receive a $1,250 donation to help those in need.
Wherever we operate, our goal is to improve the quality of life of those we serve. One of the ways we do this is by supporting community charities throughout the country that work diligently to tackle some of society’s many challenges, ranging from food insecurity to homelessness to environmental issues.
Congratulations to last year’s sweepstakes winners and the 38 community organizations they chose to support, including those highlighted below.
Since 2017, we’re proud to s ay students at our partner universities have supported over 166 local charities nationwide, with donations totaling more than $135,000.
“Whether supporting campus food pantries, mitigating food waste, organizing food drives, or innovatively raising and awarding funds to local hunger-fighting nonprofit organizations, Sodexo Campus employees are embracing and advancing Sodexo’s unique philanthropic mission, Stop Hunger. They have also worked with the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s strategic partners, including the Food Recovery Network, Swipe Out Hunger, and Move for Hunger, to ensure the health of people and the planet are preserved and elevated through food recovery and food aid efforts.”
— Roxanne Moore, Executive Director Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
“Students today love making an impact. Whether that’s in campus teams and clubs, on social media, or via organizations that align with their values, students care. And they often are searching for that opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves. With Sodexo’s semester sweepstakes, we give students an easy way to be part of something huge and make a positive impact in their community.”
— Kristi Theisen, Senior Director Impact Marketing, Sodexo North AmericaSodexo is a leader in capturing data, applying insights, and implementing technology to meet the needs of the higher education market and the individual campuses we serve. By staying abreast of students’ changing needs and motivations and remaining dedicated to technological advancement, we are ideally positioned to create and implement innovative solutions that improve the quality of daily life.
Equally important is that we do not lose sight of the personal interaction that nurtures relationship-building, creates positive outcomes, and enhances the student experience. Essential to achieving this is a steadfast commitment to humanizing technology in its development and application — to deploy technology in more agreeable, enjoyable, and beneficial ways to our customers. From service bots to frictionless retail solutions, our goal is the seamless integration of personalized technology to better the lives of the people we serve.
Welcome to Campus Digiverse, our newly created digital innovation hub that provides access to the latest technology and innovative solutions available to our clients.
Complemented by an internal portal that houses a digital toolkit for our operators, Campus Digiverse is a one-stop destination for clients (and prospective clients) to explain how Sodexo Campus uses digital innovation to meet students’ needs.
Campus Digiverse features an interactive interface to easily explore various areas of interest. This site is step one, showcasing our approach and solutions; step two, a digital toolkit that puts solutions in the hands of our teams, enabling conversations, planning and opportunities to innovate, automate, and digitize campus dining — with a human touch, of course.
Access Sodexo’s Campus Digiverse Innovation Hub by scanning the code, or visiting www.campusdigiverse.com
Moving Our Focus From Technical Elements to a Holistic Guest Digital Journey
Digital applications for guests and operators, including apps and guest satisfaction
Data & Analytics
Guest insights, commercial performance, and satisfaction
Menu, nutrition, content, social media, and social listening
Guest rewards, recognition, and purchase incentives
Online ordering, digital wallet, self-checkout, and kiosks
Technical Maintenance
Integrations, security/risk management, and scalability
“Humanizing technology, in theory and practice, should be the impetus and not the exception. Our Digital Innovation team works diligently to bring this to fruition in everything we do, strategically leveraging technology and deploying innovative digital solutions that humanize ‘everyday’ experiences. From robotic food delivery to eat>NOW powered by Amazon, our frictionless, “just walk out” convenience store offer, providing a memorable dining experience is in our DNA. It embodies who we are as an organization.”
— Raz Barnwell, Vice President Digital Innovation, Sodexo CampusStructurally, Campus Digiverse is designed around four areas of focus: Experience & Service, Interaction & Engagement, Access & Convenience, and Ghost Kitchens & Flex Solutions. The primary aim of these areas is to help users synthesize available technology and capabilities, pinpoint specific solutions worth further exploration, and elevate the potential application of these innovations for future implementation.
From mobile apps to automation to front-of-house solutions, our Digital Innovation team builds, tests, and launches technology that will help meet and exceed students’ needs and expectations — providing delicious food when and how they want it. Experience & Service is divided into six sections, including:
• Food, Beverage, Prep, & Serve - User-friendly solutions deliver reduced wait times, heightened productivity, and increased revenue.
• Delivery - Advanced delivery technology offers students easy ordering, centralized payment (that they already use), and safe delivery from a campus vendor.
• Access & Servability - Powerful insights drive relevant solutions from streamlined ordering to peak flow management.
• Service Bots - Sophisticated machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technology help meet and exceed students’ elevated quality and efficiency expectations.
• Vending & Retail - Fully integrated, on-demand vending, and retail solutions deliver the value, convenience, and brands that students love.
• Safety - Specialty kitchenware solutions guarantee safety and concentrate on delivering best-in-class service.
Innovative solutions personalize students’ dining experiences and accelerate service and communication, generating excitement, delight, and connectivity.
• Communication Tools & Engagement - Interactive services customize individual dining experiences, provide guest appreciation, collect feedback, and help intuitively market the next-best thing via social media, texting, etc.
• Digital Sensors - Technology applications digitize dining operations to save time and labor costs, increase food safety, and reduce unnecessary waste.
• Digital Signage & HardwareScalable, cloud-based digital signage solutions enable the creation and display of custom, on-brand, up-to-the-minute content that speaks distinctly to the campus community.
• Mobile & Web Apps - Mobile and online technology provide interfaces that are familiar (and popular) among students, and easily integrate into existing campus operations.
Innovative approaches meet students’ evolving demands, including more variety and extended service hours — seamlessly integrated into their daily lives.
Frictionless Retail - Features integrated technology solutions, including autonomous grocery stores, mobile and kiosk ordering from on-campus ghost kitchens, digital wallets and self-checkout, shopper personalization, scan-and-go capabilities, and contactless delivery.
On-trend dining concepts and proven partnerships expand menus and increase convenience and variety while maximizing space utilization.
Ghost Kitchens & Virtual Brands - Ghost Kitchens and Virtual Brands effortlessly extend service availability and increase menu variety regardless of space and labor constraints. Delivery-only solutions showcase the world’s top food innovators and maximize the use of existing operations while offering students the convenience of mobile and kiosk ordering.
Third-Party Partnerships - An extensive network of vetted, tested, and trusted partners are ready to implement comprehensive solutions that require minimal maintenance while delivering optimal performance and results.
Campuses are ideal environments where students can socialize, connect, and build rewarding relationships. Promoting socialization and inclusiveness is at the heart of our Spark Strategy. And while it may seem counterintuitive, the same commitment drives our development of new technology to deliver delicious food quickly and conveniently. There is no short selling the importance of student engagement, and by leveraging digital innovations, we provide turnkey solutions that students want and expect — all without jeopardizing human interaction.
Staying relevant with students is an ever-evolving commitment as their tastes, choices, and willingness to explore something new change in the blink of an eye. In this fast-paced environment, engaging students in an authentic and personalized way has never been more critical. However, creating and maintaining a meaningful connection requires a timely and strategic approach. That’s where our accounts’ marketing plans prove invaluable. Imagine building a house without a blueprint. Our account teams work diligently to develop plans that serve as the strategic foundation upon which all their campus outreach efforts rely.
“Whenever I want to make a new friend, I first invite them to join me for a meal at one of the many campus dining locations. Also, about two thirds of the time that I am hanging out with my friends is when we’re eating together.”
— Victoria Ng, Director Consumer Insights, Sodexo Campus
Supplementing the marketing measures our account teams develop is a robust portfolio of programs and promotions. These resources vary in scope and purpose and are designed to accommodate account customization while maximizing student engagement.
The following is a look at some of the portfolio’s more targeted initiatives.
Today’s students value peer-to-peer interaction. Tapping into this asset helps dining services stay current with student needs, increase engagement, promote socialization, and improve satisfaction. Our Street Teams consist of three talented groups, including Campus Interns, Student Influencers, and Student Ambassadors, each fulfilling a paid role supporting our outreach efforts.
Working in partnership with account marketing, Student Influencers harness the power of social media and in-person event appearances to tell the story of campus dining. They coordinate with Campus Interns to create strategic content and use their “influence” to encourage student interest, participation, and engagement
These students represent our Street Team’s on-call task force, ready to support the dining program’s efforts when needed. Student Ambassadors are high-energy and focus on ensuring our special events are executed without a hitch by assisting with such tasks as setting up, breaking down, and engaging with students. Ambassadors also play an essential role in hosting tabling and sampling initiatives.
Our Mystery Shopper program recruits student shoppers to randomly visit dining venues on campus to provide feedback (through an online form) on quality, variety, service, and other criteria compared to competitors. Our operators can then use this real-time customer feedback to increase account profitability, satisfaction, and innovation. The Mystery Shopper program gathers meaningful insights about specific dining locations while serving as an excellent tool to recognize team members who excel in improving students’ quality of life.
Campus Interns help plan, deploy, and report on a dining program they help create. Our interns become active dining team members while following carefully planned workflows to ensure their time is productive and rewarding. These creative, tech-savvy students bring a new perspective to our programs while being afforded career-building opportunities in marketing, sustainability, nutrition, and wellness.
Local and regional cuisines are popular with most consumers, especially Gen Z students who take great pride in their school’s traditions and locale. Big-City Bites provides operators with a turnkey solution when students crave a taste of Americana. From Austin and Boston to San Francisco to Seattle, many delicious hometown favorites are ready to take students on a flavor-filled road trip of the USA.
The chance to win an exciting prize while benefiting a charity with a mission students support is the incentive that makes our resident dining National Sweepstakes so popular. These easy-to-enter themed National Sweepstakes help drive participation and engagement while supporting many organizations that work to improve our world.
Hunger is a harsh reality worldwide, including on university campuses. Sadly, recent studies estimate that one-third of students face food insecurity. Good Vibe Food Drive is an event that allows students to address this need by participating in several outreach efforts (meal swipe banks, food drives, campus pantry replenishment campaigns, etc.) to end hunger. Engaging marketing collateral and creative activity ideas help encourage student involvement to do good and feel good about helping those in need.
Our talented chefs and culinarians work hard daily to make delicious, nutritious meals that fuel student achievement. These talented professionals use their skills and passion to serve great food that results in a memorable dining experience. Chef Appreciation (typically celebrated during International Chef Appreciation Week) shines the spotlight on our dedicated culinary team members who excel in the kitchen and in meeting the diverse needs of the campus and community.
The little things in life often matter the most. A disappointing meal, an uncomfortable environment, or unsatisfactory service can all diminish a student’s campus experience. Sodexo recognizes the importance of these details and strives to ensure that every aspect of the dining experience is tailored to the needs of today’s students. Our award-winning Experiences Matter customer experience training teaches our teams to deliver extraordinary service while recognizing outstanding performance. And because students crave connections, we emphasize the importance of the little things (a warm smile, a friendly greeting, a timely menu suggestion, etc.) in creating a heartfelt “home away from home” dining experience.
Holidays are typically times of joy and excitement, of tradition and reverence, spent with family and friends. These special days of observance are usually associated with warm get-togethers, delicious food, and the creation of lifelong memories. Perfect for resident and retail dining venues, Holidays and Celebrations is a collection of marketing materials, unique menu suggestions, and activity ideas created to engage, entertain, and excite students during those special times throughout the year.
What better way to emphasize socialization and friendship, especially among those looking for a Thanksgiving alternative, than with a fun and friends-filled Friendsgiving event? This unofficial holiday is growing in popularity, and our special promotion gives operators a collection of marketing tools, menu suggestions, and friend-forward activities to help students celebrate friendship and feasting
Exam time is typically stressful in a student’s academic life. Cram Jam is a fun and food-filled special event designed to help students relax, refresh, and recharge for the next round of exams. Energy, focus-boosting foods, and a bounty of stress-relieving activities make Cram Jam a welcome break from a challenging time on the school calendar.
Birthdays are unique to all of us, whether we want to celebrate them a little or a lot. This colorful promotion lets operators recognize everyone’s special day with a monthly tribute. Accounts have complete flexibility when they want to recognize their birthday VIPs while treating everyone to great food, fun activities, and a few magical surprises.
Along with personalized engagement and enriching experiences, Gen Z values comforting dishes that bring a taste of home to campus. Flavor Seekers Collective is a creative way for our operators to optimize their dining program while boosting student satisfaction and driving revenue. This pop-up complete meal premium offer is designed to take the resident and retail dining experience to new heights. For a nominal upcharge (a meal swipe in resident dining or a set cost at non-branded retail concepts), this cuisine-centric program features exclusive menus and the trendy flavors students want. Optional add-ons called “Flavor Chasers” further enhance the dining experience.
Suggestive selling done right helps the customer find more value than expected, improving retention and driving repeat purchases. Our teams are trained in Sparking Sales using three very effective suggestive selling techniques: upselling, which encourages customers to purchase higher-end items, e.g., a premium dish or a larger portion size; cross-selling, which involves offering additional items that complement a purchase, e.g., suggesting a side dish or a beverage that pairs well with a featured dish; and bundling, which encourages customers to purchase a combination of products that complement each other, thereby increasing the overall value of their purchase. These techniques provide several benefits, including improved sales performance, enhanced customer relationships, and a better customer experience.
Wellness is constantly evolving, transitioning beyond diet and exercise to embrace a more inclusive perspective on overall health and well-being. Students are acutely aware of the relationship between physical and mental well-being and value programs and services that address these needs.
Mindful is Sodexo’s dynamic approach to health and wellness. It focuses on the transparency of ingredients, delicious food, satisfying portions, and clarity in messaging. Mindful also features a robust portfolio of support — from healthy recipes and eating tips to exercise suggestions and lifestyle challenges reinforcing making healthier choices second nature.
As student wellness needs change, Mindful changes with them. Currently we are developing a new look with a renewed emphasis on innovation. Our refreshed look will reflect the visual preferences of today’s students while maintaining the brand’s essence and purpose. The new and improved visual identity will be distinct and memorable, establishing a powerful connection with our customers.
“My mission is to promote health and wellness through our Mindful on Campus program, encouraging students to try new foods or participate in activities supporting physical and emotional health. My RD team works hand in hand with our marketing team to help drive healthier choices for students.”
— Quintina Reddington, RDN, LDN, Nutritional Manager, Health, Wellness, & NutritionSodexo Campus & Government, North America
For many students, wellness includes having dining options that meet their unique diet and lifestyle needs. Food allergies are prevalent among a growing population of today’s students, and Sodexo is uniquely positioned to address this need through dining options that are safe, delicious, and ensure peace of mind.
Simple Servings is a robust food allergy dining station that serves fresh, flavorful, hot meals prepared without the most common allergens, which account for 90% of all food allergy reactions. All dishes are prepared without milk, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and gluten. For increased safety, the facility uses dedicated kitchen spaces, equipment, and small wares to eliminate cross-contact contamination.
Simply 3 is a designated allergen-free station that serves hot meals free from the three core ingredients allergy-sensitive students need to avoid: milk, nuts, and gluten Simply 3 offers more variety than Simple Servings and includes breakfast and dessert options, giving students the meals they crave while avoiding the three most common allergens.
Simple Zone is a self-serve pantry where students can select gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free items to augment their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This station offers condiments, bread, milk, desserts, and tortillas free from gluten, nuts, and dairy products. Dedicated appliances, including a toaster and microwave, reduce cross-contact risk when students are preparing their meals. The pantry can also include heat-and-eat meals in a Simple Zone refrigerator if space permits.
According to Sodexo’s International Sustainable Food Barometer, developed in collaboration with Harris Interactive:
Encouraging students to opt for plant-based ingredients is an easy way to impact sustainable eating. To accelerate this progress, Sodexo is committed to ensuring that 50% of planned menus on college campuses are plant-based by 2025. Our approach to plant-based cuisine is founded on the belief that it must be authentic, satisfying, and fun in addition to its many health benefits.
Increasing the number of plant-based and plant-focused options on menus is also part of Sodexo’s plan to reduce our global carbon footprint by 34% by 2025 and toward Net Zero by 2040.
Today’s students expect the plant-based choices available to them to be the same in taste, texture, and mouthfeel as their animal counterparts. To satisfy these student expectations, plant-based choices must reflect their love of global cuisines, diverse flavors, and exciting ingredients to maximize appeal and selection. In addition to promoting healthy lifestyle choices, sustainable eating helps the environment by streamlining food production and reducing waste.
Sodexo is in a formidable position to implement programs and initiatives that propel sustainability efforts — primarily through supporting responsible food production, reducing food waste, lowering carbon emissions, and positively impacting the environment.
Food production contributes to climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, and the destruction of biodiversity. Through our supply chains, we support responsible and sustainable food production that utilizes processes and systems that are non-polluting, conserve non-renewable energy and natural resources, promote economic efficiency, and contribute to the safety of workers, communities, and end-consumers.
Weighing In on Waste: Sodexo demonstrates environmental leadership by reducing food waste at every level of our organization. Improved menu management substantially reduces the over-production of food and, ultimately, food waste. Our ContemPLATE Waste initiative provides meaningful ways for our managers and dining staff to reduce food waste through practical interventions, including offering smaller portions, reducing waste at salad bars and self-serve stations, and offering food samples to decrease the amount of plated food that returns uneaten. These simple but impactful steps reinforce the importance of organizational and individual responsibility to reduce food waste and food insecurity while emphasizing the value of immediate action.
Sodexo is proud to be #2 in Social Responsibility on FORTUNE magazine’s 2024 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Our teams are dedicated to social, cultural, economic, and environmental responsibility and drive our organization’s commitment to creating a better every day and building a better life for everyone.
Better Tomorrow is Sodexo’s global corporate responsibility strategy that helps our leadership develop, direct, and make positive contributions to society and the environment — and helps our clients do the same. We have committed to reducing carbon emissions by 34% by 2025 through this initiative. With our Net Zero 2040 initiative, we are the first company in our industry to have a reduction target approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
According to Beth McGroarty, Director of Research at the Global Wellness Institute, women represent a meaningful percentage of consumers in the wellness industry, including having the most CEOs and founders. A report by American Express noted that women are at the forefront of many new businesses, with a significant amount of these in the $5.6 trillion wellness industry.
Sodexo’s commitment to supporting women and minority-owned businesses is well-founded and is especially evident in wellness. Of note are three innovative and inspiring minority-owned or woman-owned businesses that support developing innovative limited-time offers (LTOs) featured in campus dining.
image of Partake logo
Minority-Owned
Inspired by her daughter who was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, Denise Woodard created Partake in 2016 with a selection of delicious, allergy-friendly foods. Denise is passionate about getting safe food into the hands of food-insecure families. Partake partners with organizations such as No Kid Hungry to provide access to the food, education, and advocacy these families deserve. Denise also founded Black Futures in Food & Beverage, an annual fellowship program that mentors historically Black college and university (HBCU) students and helps them secure internships and jobs.
too), offering flavors that make taste buds tingle, simple ingredients that fuel busy days, and values that keep them strong. TRUWOMEN is driving a new frontier of leadership for women, hiring women in leadership positions, and committing to pay equity.
image of Trubar logo
Woman-Owned
Inspired by indulgent desserts and plant-based ingredients, TRUWOMEN products such as TRUBAR blur the lines between healthy and delicious. Their simple, plant-based ingredients are dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of sugar alcohols. TRUBAR snack bars are crafted with women in mind (men and kids
Brought to you by women-owned snack manufacturer Truly Good Foods, Henrietta Said is a brand-new line of scandalously spicy wing-flavored peanuts and snacks that allow you to “snack good but stay spicy.” Based in Charlotte, they specialize in freshly roasted nuts and seeds, premium snack mixes, and a variety of innovative snacks, making them the perfect vegan snack. Always keeping their customers in mind, Henrietta Said lives their core values — integrity, growth and learning, customer satisfaction, and leadership — every day and with every new product launch.
Through social media and other outreach efforts, we increase awareness and heighten excitement for the many programs and promotions that make a Sodexo experience unique.
Here is a look at how some Sodexo accounts are activating our Spark Strategy on their campuses.
Congratulations to Ian McGrath!
The Sodexo Campus Internship Program has given thousands of students throughout the United States the opportunity to gain useful and practical hands-on experience in marketing and other related fields.
A Sodexo internship offers students a wide variety of on-the-job training in social media management, event planning, and special project development and implementation. The internship program helps students finetune their marketing, communication, organization, and leadership skills in preparation for their post-graduation career
We are extremely proud of our Campus Interns — Experiences That Count program and the valuable knowledge that the program, and our mentors, provide to the students. We are equally proud of the exemplary rate we help students transition from internship positions to gainful Sodexo employment.
Ian is the 2024 Keurig Dr Pepper Summer Internship Winner and Sodexo Campus Intern of the Year!
Ian is a Sodexo Marketing Intern and junior at University of Massachusetts Boston Ian earned a 2024 summer internship with Keurig Dr Pepper where he will help plan, build, and execute the 2024 Dr Pepper/ Sodexo Tuition Giveaway
The contest was open to all Sodexo Campus Interns in the U.S. Interns were tasked with promoting the Dr Pepper/ Cheez-It Tuition Giveaway on campus and ensuring proper advertising, merchandising, and pricing in addition to increasing brand awareness and growing Dr Pepper sales.
Congratulations, Ian!
“I view internships as a spark to ignite a lifelong career. By providing students with the opportunity to work alongside our industry experts, they can explore the passion they’ve been studying in real-world terms and find where they fit in. Students want the chance to be innovative and to make a difference, so giving them the resources to do so and a first taste of what they’re truly capable of only fuels their drive for success and improvement. I have seen some real advancements in Sodexo come from the internships I’ve helped develop and integrate, and I think this proves what a necessary part of our foundation student interns are.”
— Mel Sweeney Fetzer, National Senior Vice President of Commercial Growth Sodexo CampusHeidi Diaz is a recent graduate from Western Connecticut State University where she majored in marketing. During her time at WCSU, Heidi served as a Marketing Intern for Sodexo’s on-campus dining services. Heidi was instrumental in the opening of the new Berkshire Hall, which features both a resident dining facility and a retail café. She used her storytelling abilities to capture the progress journey from construction all the way through the official ribbon cutting ceremony. During her time as an intern, Heidi also had the opportunity to represent the voice of Generation Z on a panel at the prestigious Plant-Based World Expo held in New York City. Heidi’s participation in this event exemplifies what Sodexo stands for: empowering our students and providing them with the platform they need to be heard. It underscores our commitment to nurturing young talent and encouraging them to step into the spotlight, knowing that their perspectives are valued and essential in shaping the future.
Upon graduation, Heidi was hired as a full-time Marketing Manager at Western Connecticut State University, a recently added position that had not existed on that campus prior. Heidi has noted that her internship experience has been extremely instrumental in both her personal and professional growth.
“In my new position, I aim to create an environment where students feel not only welcomed, but also a part of the WCSU community. This role offers a unique platform to innovate and deepen our connections within the university, and I am eager to explore the potential it holds for enriching the dining experience for every member of our WCSU family.”
— Heidi Diaz
is a key component in our commitment to provide an exceptional student experience. We offer our interns hands-on knowledge and mentorship that lays the groundwork for a successful professional career. Sodexo has developed a designated website that provides up-to-date information on the application process, internship innovation, experience, success, and our Campus Intern blog. For more information, please visit sostudents.sodexomyway.com
Wyatt Cannon served as a Sodexo Marketing Intern for two years while attending Marist College majoring in communications and media. During those two years, Wyatt published several articles and press releases, helped curate a strong brand image, and had a lot of fun creating and developing innovative campus media projects with other Marist College interns.
Upon graduation in May of 2023, Wyatt accepted a full-time position as the Marketing Manager for Sodexo at Southern Connecticut State University. In his new position, Wyatt has spearheaded various campus campaigns, student initiatives, and promotional programs — he credits his Sodexo internship with properly preparing him for a bright and successful career.
Currently, Wyatt has two interns under his wing, both of whom he is working with to provide the same experiences he found so beneficial during his time in the Sodexo internship program. “If I can provide my interns with the room to grow their existing skills and learn new ones, then my job is complete,” Wyatt said. “It’s my way of giving back to the program that set me up for success.”
“My experience as a Sodexo Intern has wholly shaped my career path, and I don’t think I would have been able to undertake as much responsibility in my first full-time role if it were not for the qualities and skills this internship program cultivates.”
— Wyatt Cannon
“If I were to give advice to current interns, I would tell them to be selfstarters and be proactive in seeking opportunities to contribute to the team. Ask all the questions — take every opportunity to learn from your colleagues and supervisors. Don’t be afraid to bring your ideas to the table and actively seek feedback.”
— Abby Feichtel
If you ask Abby Feichtel, she will emphatically tell you that she thoroughly enjoyed her time as a Sodexo Intern. Her favorite part was the incredible intern team that she worked with daily at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. Abby remains thankful for the valuable mentorship of her marketing manager, who provided her invaluable guidance and welcomed her ideas, but also offered amazing support and direction. Abby said, “I am very grateful for her mentorship and the opportunity to gain experience and grow under her leadership.” Abby fully appreciates the opportunity that her Sodexo internship provided her. Every step of the way she felt nurtured by the Sodexo leadership; through their collaboration, support, and camaraderie, Abby feels that her intern experience was truly educational, rewarding, and sometimes just fun!
Abby is now a proud member of the Sodexo team. She accepted a position as a Marketing Specialist for Cabrini University in Radnor, PA. Abby enjoys her position with Sodexo and said, “One of my favorite parts of my job is how it lets me be creative. I enjoy developing new ideas for events and campaigns and designing content. I also love the teams that I get to work with every day.”
Faith Chang interned with Sodexo during her junior and senior years at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, NJ. Faith is beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve as a Sodexo Intern. She smilingly states that her internship experience was extremely enjoyable and offered so many opportunities to develop and grow her professional skills. “I learned how to be creative and build stronger connections with my college community. Post-graduation, I was interested in continuing marketing, but found no open opportunities. Just a few short months later, my previous manager reached out to me to tell me she was leaving her position and invited me to apply!” said Faith. Regarding the value of her internship, Faith continued, “I am now Sodexo’s Field Marketing Specialist for three accounts across New Jersey: Ramapo College, Centenary University, and Camden County College I am extremely grateful to Sodexo for this opportunity and for the mentorship of my previous manager.”
“I originally applied for Sodexo’s marketing internship simply to add a new kind of expertise on my resume. Little did I know that this internship would prove invaluable to my professional career.”
— Faith ChangGen Z grew up with smartphones, social media, and the internet, and they are accustomed to setting a trend rather than following one. This insight is especially true when it comes to their dining choices and the value they place on food experiences that are global, authentic, and sustainable.
Sodexo stays ahead of the latest trends in campus dining by maintaining a mindset of continual exploration. Listening to what students want, observing where they eat when they aren’t on campus, and tapping into the latest insights serve as a blueprint for future concept development.
Effectively engaging students requires food choices that are unique, memorable, and delicious — not mass-produced. Our research has shown that students want:
• Custom-made dishes: They’re looking for meals made especially for them, to their tastes.
• Proudly global food: As the most diverse generation in history, Gen Z is done with food watered down for the masses.
• Chef-made whole foods: Today’s students prefer meals crafted by real chefs from pure ingredients.
The following is a look at four of our most recent dining innovations.
Freakshakes are fun, indulgent, Instagram-worthy milkshakes that are 100% plant-based. Smooth and creamy, just like a classic shake, these new oat-based versions are topped with edible art, from cotton candy to donut holes, even chewy boba and rock candy. Strawberry Cookie Butter, Chocolate S’Moreo, Dreamsicle, Mint Explosion, Chocolate Banana, and Birthday Bash are some of the 12 dairy-free flavors students can enjoy.
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66% of students say they want to eat more sustainably on campus,1 36% follow a vegan, pescatarian, or flexitarian diet, and more than a third of Gen Zers consume meat alternatives daily. Modern students are ready to make the jump to plant-based options on campus.
Sensational Sushi is one of our most popular pop-up restaurants for several reasons, including its novelty, freshness, and fusion of flavors. Featuring perfectly cooked rice and other delectable ingredients, Sensational Sushi is made-to-order and ready to satisfy everyone’s craving for tasty morsels of goodness.
Boba (aka bubble tea) is a mix of tea, milk, and soft-yet-chewy tapioca pearls, also called boba, and is one of the fastest-growing Gen Z food trends on campuses today. Boba Blast makes a big splash with fun, slurpy, colorful drinks and an extra-wide boba straw to add even more playfulness. Craveable choices, a perfectly refreshing mix of sweetness and flavor, and social media-ready aesthetics make Boba Blast a drink and a way of life for students.
“At Sodexo, innovation is not a luxury but a necessity. As an organization, we know that our success is determined by how we meet our clients’ and customers’ needs and how we embrace change not as a challenge but as an opportunity. We use innovation as the secret ingredient in our recipe for success one that prioritizes remaining relevant and impactful to the people we serve.”
— Rob Morasco, Vice President Culinary Innovation & Offer Development, Sodexo Campus
Since the Boba Blast pop-up was a huge hit with students everywhere, we decided to take it up a notch with the premiere of Boba Blast Floats. Starting with the same bubbly delicious beverage, we made this student favorite even more indulgent by adding ice cream. Switched-up flavors and fun toppings transform these luscious creations into an outrageously delightful dining experience. Taro, strawberry, and even mango drinks can get mixed with different boba and topped with ice cream to create the ultimate boba-licious drink.
Pop-up restaurants have proven to be an excellent way of keeping our dining fresh and exciting. And because students get to vote on what concept they would like to see next, each new pop-up reflects the latest tastes and preferences of the very students we serve. These on-trend culinary innovations are redefining dining on campus and are emerging as a powerful vehicle for students’ self-expression and willingness to try something new.
Sodexo is honored to be recognized on FORTUNE magazine’s 2024 list of the world’s Most Admired Companies — ranking #1 in our industry for innovation and #2 in corporate responsibility and global competitiveness. Around 3,700 business executives, directors, and analysts rated 660 companies from 29 countries on nine criteria for the survey.
At Sodexo, we believe that innovation is dependent on our ability to listen to the needs of our clients and to stay on the cutting edge of industry trends, challenges, and solutions. We pay close attention to market demands and use our pioneering culture to create valuable products and services that address and meet the ever-changing needs of Gen Z and today’s collegiate climate.
We are exceptionally proud of our successful campus educational series, Brain Food. Introduced in the spring of 2023, Brain Food is a series of interactive micro-conferences backed by expert insights and research, and did we mention, delicious food?
Using a lunch-and-learn format, the series is designed to stimulate discussions and jump-start informative and productive communication between campuses and Sodexo operators.
It is an academic forum, within our series of recurring events, which will explore topics and trends relevant to today’s modern campus. The interactive sessions help identify and create custom plans and site-level innovations for advance planning. The sessions are designed to have participants brainstorm and discuss interventions to better attract, support, and retain students.
“Engaging with our clients highlights the value we bring to our partnerships. The Brain Food sessions use a set of keynote speaker-style videos that can be presented in person or virtually to drive interaction and rich discussion with campus stakeholders.”
— Brett Ladd, CEO Sodexo Campus & Government, North AmericaThe first module of the series, “Advocating Student Retention and Belonging on Campus, ” delves into insights from the latest Student Lifestyle Survey. This mini conference focuses on four specific categories as they pertain to overall student well-being: Fit & Welcome, Belonging, Resilience, and Being an Ally. The purpose of this session is to spark dynamic conversation on how to foster a sense of belonging on campus, grow student resilience, and build a culture of allyship in which all students can thrive.
Brain Food aligns perfectly with our Spark Strategy that highlights our commitment to a connected campus community and the overall well-being of students.
The fundamental nature of these sessions is to open lines of communication, work closely with key constituents on campus, and to develop easy-to-implement site-level innovations for our operators — so our clients can see immediate results.
Liberty University loves Brain Food! “It was so great spending time with all of you. I love how passionate each of you are about food service. It really showed throughout your entire visit. We really appreciate the partnership with Sodexo and after spending a few days with you all, it just confirmed for me even more that we have the right food service partner.”
— Louis Cambeletta, Vice President
Auxiliary Services, Liberty UniversityOur most recent release, “Creating Community Through People, Planet + Palate, ” is all about sustainability. When it comes to sustainable eating, Gen Z is on board. They are acutely aware of the environmental effects of climate change, food waste, clean energy sources, and carbon footprint reduction. However, Sodexo knows that shifting to carbon-conscious eating as an institution can present distinct challenges for every campus. This Brain Food session offers our campus partners evidence-based data to stimulate dialogue and provide an avenue to communicate needs, act on values, and design a more sustainable tomorrow by affecting attitudes and encouraging action.
Brain Food strongly supports our Net Zero 2040 Ambition to reduce carbon emissions and our continued commitment to social equity and human health.
Brain Food sessions provide beneficial insight, on-trend research, and collaboration skills for all campus administrators, district managers, general managers, collegiate leadership teams, marketing professionals, auxiliary services staff, dining staff directors, student government officers, student activity leaders, and all employees directly involved with on-site student and campus affairs.
Sodexo will continue to develop contemporary sessions concentrating on relevant and up-to-date trends and forward-thinking topics that affect our clients, campuses, and students. Our Brain Food initiative is designed to operate as a turnkey series, whereby any campus leader can easily facilitate a Brain Food session with colleagues. The Brain Food toolkit includes all the materials necessary to hold an interactive, educational, and successful session on your campus. The tools and resources are conveniently packaged to provide everything you will need before, during, and after hosting an in-person or virtual event.
Sodexo continues to look for methods to improve our client partnerships. For more information, or if you are interested in scheduling a Brain Food session on your campus, please contact Sherie Sheran, Director of Offer Experience & Deployment for Sodexo Campus at Sherie.Sheran@sodexo.com.
“Community is the catalyst for innovation. Brain Food sessions help us jump-start ideas by collaborating closely with our clients, faculty, staff, and students. Each research-based, mini session ignites the spirit of possibility, creativity, and collaboration that propels our partnerships forward. Together, in this synergy, we have the potential to create groundbreaking solutions and a better everyday for millions of consumers.”
— Sherie Sheran, DirectorOffer Experience & Deployment, Sodexo Campus
Inspired, compassionate, and dedicated people elevating excellence one person at a time: that’s the Sodexo difference. We recognize the importance and performance of our teams and are proud to showcase their talents and accomplishments throughout the year. Through these extraordinary individuals, we celebrate the power of engagement and connectivity and their essential role in delivering a quality dining experience to students.