WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and Aramark announced Friday (June 12) that they have entered into a retail dining operator agreement that will enhance dining offerings for Purdue’s West Lafayette campus and community.
The partnership comes after a collaborative Request for Proposals process including input from students, faculty and staff. Aramark serves hundreds of educational institutions, sports teams and businesses around the world.
“Aramark has a wealth of experience and submitted a strong proposal when we issued our RFP last fall,” said Rob Wynkoop, associate vice president for auxiliary services at Purdue. “We were very focused on a retail solution that brought new and real choices to the retail dining experience on the West Lafayette campus. We are excited to partner with them to bring these high-quality dining options to campus. There will be great options for every palate.”
Aramark will operate 35 dining locations on the West Lafayette campus, including 11 locations in Purdue Memorial Union. Dining offerings will include a mix of local, regional and national companies. One of the highlights of this new partnership will be a complete renovation for the ground floor of PMU. The space will be transformed into the Purdue Marketplace, a world-class food hall with a variety of new dining concepts, including Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, co-owned by Purdue alumnus Drew Brees.
Aspects of the new contract will include the following:
- Additional new dining options, including Jersey Mike’s, Panera Bread, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Saladworks and Firehouse Subs.
- New technology to streamline service and wait times.
- Value-driven Retail Dining Memberships with special member benefits.
- Job-training resources and expansive job opportunities for retail dining associates.
Aramark will assume control of retail dining in early July. All Purdue employees affected by this transition have been offered a position with Aramark with a comparable benefits package, an overall increase in compensation, and they will receive a transition bonus.
“Aramark is extremely proud to partner with Purdue,” said Jack Donovan, president of Aramark’s Higher Education division. “We look forward to helping the University with its campus transformation and ultimately, enhancing the living and learning experience and environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.”
The retail dining operator agreement has a 10-year term with two five-year renewal options. As part of the partnership, Aramark will provide a portion of the funding to complete the renovation of the Purdue Memorial Union ground floor, which was approved by Purdue’s Board of Trustees in April.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been named to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list, the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
