Food Services Advisory Group
Minutes - 04/15/13
Members present: Katana Brown, Jeff Caponera, Frank Gleason, Celia Esposito-Noy, Shelly
Massey, Don Wallace
1. Don Wallace welcomed the group and each person introduced him or herself.
2. No changes to the agenda were suggested.
3. The October 10, 2010 minutes were reviewed in detail to determine which of the follow
up items had been accomplished. The following is noted:
Item 4.a.- Aramark has made the “better pastries” from Java City available after the JC
closes in the afternoon.
Item 4.b.- Question was asked as to why the turkey burger is not listed on the menu.
Aramark states that it was a limited time only trial and although it was very popular they are
not officially offering it at this time. They will, however, keep turkey burgers on hand if
anyone should ask for them. Question was asked, if turkey burgers were popular, why not
continue to offer them? Response from Aramark: if we keep offering the same popular
items, we cannot push other new offerings. Example: Aramark is pushing Raging Burrito
even though it has not proven to be a popular option.
Item 4.c.- Aramark is making nearly all the grab-n-go items now instead of buying them, so
they have control over the size and price of items. However, their current offerings seem to
be selling and they have no interest in changing the size or prize of the items.
Item 4.d.- Shelli and Jeff to explore using Student ID cards to purchase CARE meals. This
item was inadvertently overlooked and was not discussed.
Item 6.a.- Aramark has not yet created the price comparison but plans to do that by next
week.
Item 6.b.- Aramark has offered some vegetarian items such as fruit cups, yogurts, wraps,
pizzas, salad bar, and burritos.
Item 6.c.- Aramark offered a Hawaiian menu and potato bar shortly after the October
meeting in which it was agreed that they would offer ethnic and holiday meals on a regular
basis. Although the meal was popular, Aramark has discontinued the ethnic and holiday
meals in lieu of pushing Raging Burrito. Question was asked, why would you discontinue the
popular offerings in order to push Raging Burrito which has not proven to be successful
after a long period of pushing it? Response from Aramark: we are going to bring in Lauren
Roberts, Aramark’s marketing specialist, to do some intercept surveys and find out what
people want.
Item 6.d.- Aramark has not created the menu calendar but plans to do so next week.
Item 6.e.- Aramark did not do the taste sampling or conduct a taste test panel in the fall as
agreed, but they plan to do so this coming fall during the first week of the term.
Item 6.f.- Nutritional binder is in place and is being updated as things change.
Item 6.g.- Aramark has continued to run out of food items (e.g., mayonnaise, turkey
burgers, homemade chips). Aramark states that they order these staple products twice a
week and they should be able to keep these products in stock. They will fix the problem.
Item 6.h.- Menu entrée items are not being offered four days a week as agreed. It was
suggested that maybe four days a week is too often. Additionally, it was suggested that
Aramark is the expert in this area and needs to be more proactively managing the
restaurant to maximize sales and meet the actual interest of the customers.
Item 7.a.- College needs to add signage to Garden Room indicating hours of staff dining.
Item 7.b.- Item resolved (i.e., plugged toilets).
Item 7.c.- Item being monitored by College. Action will be taken whenever necessary (i.e.,
“parkers”).
Item 7.d.- Item resolved (i.e., bike racks).
Item 7.e.- This item seems to be in conflict with the data. Students actually do not
“generally like Raging Burrito” and, in fact, prefer to go off campus to Chipotles to buy
similar products as several times the cost.
4. The October 10, 2010 minutes were approved.
5. Aramark Updates
No additional updates.
6. Frank reviewed the results of the Fall 2012 dining survey. It was noted that the survey
results are a true comparison with Fall 2011 since both of those surveys were in the new
facility. However, the fall 2011 survey yielded only 214 respondents district wide.
Therefore, the results are probably somewhat skewed. Regardless, all the categories
were slightly higher (i.e, more positive) for CRC except for the category “Comfortable
and fun dining experience,” which was slightly lower. This is probably understandable in
light of the fact that the new dining facility was just opened when the 2011 survey was
done and there was probably a certain amount of excitement based on the newness.
The CRC sample contained 99 respondents, 85% from students and 15% from faculty
and staff.
7. Other Issues, Recommendations, Comments
a. It was suggested that more gluten free offerings would be nice. Aramark
responded that it was too expensive and although people ask for such things,
they generally do not buy them. The do not plan to offer more gluten free items.
b. It was noted that students really prefer to have the full cafeteria open in the
mornings because it is not convenient to wait in line at Java City when they are in
transit to early morning classes. Aramark noted that sales have not decreased
during the time when the cafeteria is closed, but they are willing to open the
cafeteria at 10:00 instead of 11:00, Monday through Thursday. They will
probably maintain the current schedule on Fridays.
c. It was reported that the microwave is broken and is in the process of being
replaced.
d. Katana will try to do a “pitch story” on the dining center in order to give Aramark
some free advertising in the college paper. Katana stated that many students do
not know what Aramark offers and are leaving campus to buy food (e.g.,
Chipotles) when many similar items are available in the dining center at much
lower prices. Aramark needs more effective advertising to get the word out.
Word of mouth is not enough.