If you haven’t seen by now, our current food care provider Sodexo has moved in since Winthrop bade farewell to Aramark, our previous food care provider. It’s been about a year since we welcomed Sodexo into the eagle nest. But since then, not everyone has been happy with where it left us, as students. There was lots of disappointment and change but like all things, there’s always a bright side.
“I have noticed that even though Sodexo only had a very minimal amount of time to adjust to the college dining environment, they are very diligent with making the best atmosphere possible and the best food possible. There are ups and downs like any normal thing but they are striving to do better. My favorite thing that is different from Aramark is that Sodexo puts on student led events that allows us to be apart of the food we are essentially going to eat. Of course, there will be more adjustments to be made but like any good thing, it takes time” said Brianna Beaty, a sophomore early childhood major.
“I think Aramark had more options, and was more culturally diverse in terms of the food that they served” Victoria English, Junior Sports Management major.
As students, when it came to deciding Sodexo over Aramark, there were lots of comments about the absence of to-go boxes that we previously had with Aramark. It made eating lunch more convenient and quick, especially for those of us taking lots of credit hours. Without the boxes, students originally tried to BYOT, or bring your own tupperware approach. We all thought that it was a great idea, especially since Thomson Cafe was opened to having students bring their own bottles (BYOB). Unfortunately, Sodexo did not support this innovation. In fact, students caught with tupperware were asked not to use it because it wasn’t allowed.
“Well with Aramark, the thing I did like about the company is that the food had more flavor to it then Sodexo and they allowed carry out trays which to me his a big thing for students who are on the go and with Sodexo what I like is that they bring a little more variety but the food isn’t as good the thing I dislike about the company is that they do not supply carry out trays and the food isn’t as good” Morris Buckery, sophomore Sports Management major.
Students complained that there wasn’t enough variety in the food being provided by Sodexo, as there was in Aramark. “Last year I felt like the food wasn’t quite as good as this years food… but last year there was more of a variety of foods and things they served. Where this year I don’t feel like they really switch it up… they just have the same thing every day for every meal. I definitely went to Thompson more last year” Issac Smith, Sophomore Sports Management major.
“Sodexo took away my regular plastic straws, to go boxes, and the variety of food at the grill. Sodexo gave me bloody chicken, but Aramark wasn’t really good either though” Tina Carter, Sophomore Business Administration major.
Another major thing that students miss as an option was using Cafe cash, within your meal plan, for Domino’s. Winthrop Athletics already has a partnership with the local Domino’s, now it was added as a part of our meal plans as students. This addition made ordering out for a big event or in the rain/snow, very simple to pay for, but since Sodexo moved in they weren’t having it and decided to cut ties with Domino’s leaving students to ‘fend on their own’ when it comes to paying for Domino’s.
“While sodexo has brought a new questionable food quality to Winthrop, I feel that the events held do not compare to the variety Aramark use to bring to the dinner table, and the presence of dominos is still a key factor” Jose Arencibia, Sophomore Computer Science major.
With Sodexo vouching 1 of 5 to Aramark its unanimous that Aramark is clearly the winner amongst students. Unfortunately we can’t change that because contracts and lawsuits but we can always think back and remember the good old days.
