ARAMARK earns ASU food service contract

ASU has awarded a seven-year contract to ARAMARK Higher Education to provide dining and retail food services at the ASU Tempe campus. The agreement, with potential first-year sales of up to $35 million, can be extended to 10 years.

With a Tempe campus enrollment of more than 51,000, and a total enrollment topping 63,000, ASU is one of the premier metropolitan public research universities in the nation. ASU is pioneering the New American University, offering both high quality education and access to a broad section of the population. By 2020, the university expects to enroll 90,000 students.

“ASU is excited about our new partnership with ARAMARK,” says Michael J. Coakley, ASU associate dean of student affairs and executive director of university housing. “During the interview and selection process, it was apparent that ARAMARK would bring new and exciting elements to dining on the Tempe campus. With expanded serving hours, new venues such as Quizno's and new service points on campus such as the Coor Building, ARAMARK obviously listened to student desires.

“Other factors in the decision – in addition to their commitment to sustainability, quality of product and high customer service focus – were their desire to work with ASU on the development of the new dining program in Barrett, the Honors College, and the possibility of partnering with American Campus Communities on the development of an upscale market in the South Campus Residential Community.”

Beginning July 1, ARAMARK will provide residential and retail dining, catering and special event services for the students, faculty and staff on the Tempe campus.

ARAMARK was selected based on a comprehensive, proprietary process developed by ASU engineering professor Kenneth T. Sullivan and several other professors. The process, known as the “Best Value Process,” focuses on risk and value, seeking to transfer the accountability for delivering an efficient service to the vendor most capable of doing so within the client's requirements and constraints.

“We are proud to support ASU's mission to be the New American University,” says Andrew Kerin, president of domestic food, hospitality and facilities, ARAMARK Corp. “Our strategic approach will enhance the living and learning experiences and environments for the entire ASU community.”

ARAMARK Higher Education provides a wide range of food, facility, conference center and other support services to about 500 U.S. colleges and universities.