UA farms out food service
by January 25, 1999 12:00 am 70 views
On Jan. 1, 1998, the University of Arkansas hired Chartwells Inc. to run the Fayetteville campus’ $7.5 million annual food service operation. Chartwells is part of Compass International, the largest food service business in the world.
Chartwells now provides food for the UA’s 11 dormitories and the Arkansas Union building through the company’s “Profiles in Good Taste” program.
Chartwells ran the existing UA food service system from January 1998 until the summer of 1998. James Conneely, UA director of residence life and dining services, says some 100 to 120 food service employees at the university then became Chartwells employees as that company fully took over the food service operation.
Conneely says Chartwells, being a private company, isn’t restricted by guidelines that govern state entities like the UA. So Chartwells has more flexibility to do business as a food service provider, he says.
As a result, Conneely believes the food service operation will run more efficiently and will save the university money, although the savings can’t be determined yet.
“They just have some resources we didn’t have access to,” he says. “They provide some newness to the program.”
Conneely says students seem to appreciate the change. Instead of the traditional cafeteria-style dining experience students have become accustomed to, Chartwells provides more eclectic offerings and more choices overall.
The UA signed a seven-year contract with Chartwells. Chartwells has agreed to contribute $2.9 million to the current renovation of the Arkansas Union and $1.5 million for renovation of the UA dining facilities.
The Arkansas Union food court is scheduled to open in mid-February with express units of Burger King and Chick-fil-a. Chartwells, which contracted with those two chains, will run the remainder of the food service operations in the Union.
Those will include: Trattoria, a pizza and pasta station similar to Sbarro; Upper Crust, a submarine sandwich shop; a Mongolian barbecue station, which will feature stir-fry “display cooking;” a rotisserie; and “Origins,” which will feature international foods. Other Chartwells stations will include a self-service salad bar, Market Carvery sandwich area, desserts and take-out food.
–Bill Bowden