NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
http://www.nsula.edu/news
6/29/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will have a new operator for its campus dining facilities and catering services beginning in August.
Sodexho Campus Services will replace ARAMARK as the company running food service operations effective August 4. The contract has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
A campus committee of faculty, staff and students toured food service operations throughout the region to get ideas and see how various companies operate. Four vendors made proposals and Sodexho was recommended unanimously. Northwestern President Dr. Randall J. Webb followed the committee’s recommendation.
“We feel Sodexho will provide an excellent food service operation for our students, faculty, staff and campus visitors,” said NSU Director of Auxiliary Services Jennifer Kelly. “The company has a good track record and has some excellent ideas for improving our facilities and the menus for our students.”
The lease with Sodexho runs until 2017 with an option of a mutually agreed extension for 10 more years with approval of the Board of Supervisors.
Sodexho will spend $1 million to renovate the food service operation in Iberville Hall. The renovation will provide new equipment, flooring and furniture along with a redesign of the floor space. A $1 million renovation of the food service operation in the Friedman Student Union is planned for 2013. The convenience store in the Student Union will be moved to Iberville Hall to place it closer to campus residence halls.
“Students will immediately notice the changes in Iberville,” said Kelly. “They will have a facility that is modern and up to date designed to serve them better.”
Under the agreement, Sodexho will guarantee an annual payment to Northwestern and may make additional payments if the guarantee is exceeded. The company will also provide funding to the university for the administration of the food service operation and for maintenance and repair of equipment.
Sodexho is the leading food and facilities management services company in North America with more than 120,000 employees in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The company works for corporate, healthcare, education, government, and defense markets, providing services including food services, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance and integrated facilities management.
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