Bon Appetite

As the final days approach towards a decision of who will be the next food service provider for the Vermont State Colleges, student curiosity has sparked many questions about what to expect when it comes to the future of "eating" at Lyndon.

Aramark, who has been the food service provider for the entire VSC system for twenty years, faces an expired contract as of July 1, 2012. The decision not to automatically renew the company's contract was made by the business affairs council of the VSC last year. The council, also known as the "BAC," is composed of deans of administration from each of the VSC schools and directed by Tom Robbins, Vice President of Finance for VSC.

While specific proposals each company would bring to Lyndon State, such as hours of operation, meal plans and food served, will not be negotiated until a contract is signed, it is clear that things will not be the same in the coming months.

"No matter who is picked, students should expect change," said Lyndon Dean of Administration Wayne Hamilton. "I don't think people should assume if we choose to stay with Aramark that things will stay the status quo. Our whole food service will be rethought, with a focus on local food and sustainability."

Among those new ideas is a Vermont Technical College proposal to build new processing facilities that would serve the VSC system with products such as milk, made locally here in Vermont.

Hamilton added that he also expects that the cost of board at Lyndon will increase next year either way, although "not significantly."

Aramark and Sodexo have both proposed to do some kind of renovation to the Stevens Dining Hall, although a complete renovation will not likely be possible until the summer of 2013.

Their proposals, according to Associate Dean of Student Affairs Jonathan Davis, also included financial information, a sample of the weekly menu, a head chef position, more student discounts or meal plan credits at local businesses, guest meals and more. 

"We'd like to work on everything," Davis said. "From promotions, to vegetarian meals, coffee refills, bringing food out of the dining hall, the size of the container…we're going to cover it all,"

In an effort to inform all LSC students of what to expect in the future, The Critic contacted representatives from both companies.

Greg Yost, Senior Public Relations Specialist for Sodexo - one of the largest food management companies in North America - told The Critic that it is their policy not to disclose any information regarding specific contract proposals while in negotiation, but information on a variety of their school programs and schools they serve is available on their website and they encourage Lyndon students to log on and review it.

Multiple calls to Aramark's Food Service Department were not returned. Lyndon Food Service Director Adam Vigue also declined comment.

Vigue, an Aramark employee and former Lyndon student, would keep his position if Aramark remains at Lyndon, Dean Hamilton said. Sodexo has offered two different candidates for the director job.

The final decision on who will be the next provider will ultimately be up to the Business Affairs Council of Vermont State Colleges, who has been meeting with committees of students and staff from all schools in the system.

A date for the final decision to be made has not yet been set.

Owen Pruden, the consultant hired by the VSC to gather proposals from the food service candidates, is currently in the process of redoing final analysis, which will then be presented to the selection committee to make a decision. The decision is reportedly expected in the next week or two.

"The whole system represents an improvement in the quality of services to the students," Pruden told The Critic. "Students will see obvious improvements no matter who the contractor is."

The awarded new contract will allow the chosen provider to begin service on July 1.