Aramark Does It Again! Dining Upgrades at Southern University through GrubHub Partnership

Following the Mardi Gras Break, significant updates were made to the dining facilities. For Chick-fil-A, four self-ordering kiosks were installed, along with service hardware for both front and back-of-house operations. Mobile ordering capabilities were also integrated, allowing students to use JAG Cash without even being in person a Chick-fil-A or Starbucks! Talk about convenience! Southern University Baton Rouge Main Campus has leaped forward in enhancing its dining experience by partnering with GrubHub, a leading online food platform. The move, spearheaded by Aramark, aims to streamline the food ordering process, and eliminate long lines at popular dining spots like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks on campus. The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the speed and efficiency of the new system. Empress Dabney, a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice, initially expressed surprise at the absence of long lines but soon embraced the new system. “When I first walked in, I was like OMG, where are the ropes for the line!? *She laughed* But when I started to interact with the kiosk feature, I said, this is kind of fun! I got my food in about 5 minutes!” she exclaimed.
Manager Tesha Williams expressed the motivation behind this executive change and wanting students to have a more convenient and smoother process when ordering food. Freshman Nursing major, Ciara Cornish, commended the decision, highlighting the improved efficiency. “I think they made a good choice going with this option, speeding up the process,” she said. Student Employee of Chick-fil-A, Billy Wimberly, echoed the sentiment, stating, “I love the new system; it makes me feel more in control! “
In an interview with Aramark’s General Manager, Randall Andre Jr., he explained the rationale behind partnering with GrubHub. As we continue to enhance our customers’ dining experience, Grub Hub is a solution needed to aid in the speed of service by adding multiple points of service he stated. He also mentioned the possibility of expanding the partnership to other dining locations on campus. Mr. Randall assured us that Chic Fil A is a licensee location and all locations follow the same menu, although there may be some opportunities to enhance these menus shortly. A licensee is any business, organization, or individual that has been granted legal permission, or certain rights by another entity who owns certain assets, to engage in any activity related to these assets. Permission, or license, can be given on an express or implied basis. In addition to Southern University’s collaboration with GrubHub, HBCUs like Howard University, Hampton University, and Spelman College have also embarked on similar ventures to enhance their dining experiences. These institutions recognize the importance of providing efficient and convenient food options for their students and faculty.
Mr. Randall expresses, “There are a few campuses I am aware of that have delivery robots. We hear the pros and cons as it relates to their campuses and are evaluating its benefit for our campus.” Overall, the partnership between Aramark and GrubHub marks a significant milestone in enhancing the dining experience at Southern University Baton Rouge- Main Campus, promising faster service, greater convenience, and more options for students and faculty alike.