Arizona State University (ASU) is expanding its partnership with Aramark by adding the company’s expertise in other industries to the collegiate hospitality services it currently provides.
The new multi-disciplinary approach will drive improvements in collegiate dining, high-end catering, sports facility concessions and club services, and vending and build on an 18-year relationship between the organizations.
“Aramark’s understanding of ASU's mission, combined with our ability to deliver tailored solutions across our portfolio, was key to expanding this partnership,” says Marc Bruno, COO of Aramark U.S.
Food and Facilities. “Aramark is looking forward to continuing its journey with ASU, fostering a vibrant campus environment that supports the university's vision and enhances the overall experience for students, faculty, and the community.”
The new agreement leverages the company’s collective strength and vast resources and provides ASU with a holistic hospitality ecosystem, connecting student life, athletic events, and community involvement and engagement.
“Building on our 18-year partnership with Aramark, Sun Devils will continue to enjoy the first-rate food quality and service they are accustomed to — from dining halls to arenas, and in vending and retail kiosks across our campuses,” adds Rudy Bellavia, Vice President of University Business Services and Chief Procurement Officer. “The ASU team was diligent in a competitive selection and negotiation process, delivering a 15-year best-in-class agreement with Aramark,” Bellavia said. “We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Aramark to provide innovative services and sustainable offerings to our Sun Devil community.”
Aramark will continue to showcase its award-winning hospitality program at ASU, deepening its offerings beyond collegiate dining.
Aramark will continue to showcase its award-winning hospitality program at ASU, deepening its offerings beyond collegiate dining. ASU will serve as a new training ground for Aramark's "Accelerate to Leadership (A2L)" program for early career talent development, and a partnership with ASU's Luminosity Lab will prepare solutions for future global business challenges.
ASU’s Pitchforks dining hall will be transformed to create Pitchforks Global Residential Restaurant, and the Downtown, Polytechnic, and West Valley campuses will have substantive updates made to their dining facilities.
The foodservice and facility services provider will also now provide catering services at the members-only University Club, partnering with Atlasta, a family-owned catering firm with a rich history at ASU. This collaboration combines local expertise with Aramark's extensive supply chain and purchasing power, ensuring an elevated dining experience for club members.
This collaboration combines local expertise with Aramark's extensive supply chain and purchasing power, ensuring an elevated dining experience for club members.
Aramark's Sports + Entertainment division, the award-winning food and beverage provider at more than 60 premier stadiums, arenas, and sports facilities across North America, will expand its portfolio of Big 12 Conference clients by adding Sun Devil Athletics to its roster.
Aramark’s understanding of ASU's mission, combined with our ability to deliver tailored solutions across our portfolio, was key to expanding this partnership...
Bringing its professional and collegiate sports experience to the university’s stadiums and arenas, Aramark will modernize the food and beverage programs with new food concepts, advancements designed to improve the speed of service at concession stands, and an increased variety of food and beverage offerings.
Additionally, infrastructure improvements are planned to improve the overall fan experience.
Aramark will leverage data science insights to inform new offerings and upgrades, ensuring that fan satisfaction and performance are continuously enhanced.
To round out Aramark’s campus presence, ASU will add a robust convenience retail program, with technology-driven micro-markets and new vending options.
The focus will be on increased variety, enhanced offerings, and innovation in vending services.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University, ranked the No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 10 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University.
Repeatedly ranked No. 1, ASU has topped more than 20 lists in the last three years: No. 1 in the U.S. for global impact (Times Higher Education) and No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable practices (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education).
ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.
ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines.
Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations.
