Food services company Sodexo is bringing name brands and variety to Murray State University in the coming months. Company representatives presented designs at a Board of Regents meeting on Friday.
Director of Business Development Stephen Gibson said he considers Sodexo as "business partners" with Murray State rather than a vendor. He also discussed the importance of internship programs.
Gibson said Chick-fil-A and Starbucks are projected to open in the Curris Center next fall. Einstein Bros. Bagels is projected to open in Waterfield Library next fall.
The Thoroughbred Room will be overhauled to include a Steak n Shake and other brands for a fall opening. Winslow Dining Hall is set to be 'fully renovated' for fall 2020 with a range of options, including an allergen-free station.
For students needing food assistance, the company will offer campus food banks, support local backpack programs and offer a 'campus kitchens' program - where student volunteers take leftover food to food banks. There will also be need-based scholarships for students with regard to dining. A plan is also underway to work with local university farms, as campus dining had previously done.
Most of the construction will occur over the summer. Sodexo is planning to bring in food trucks while locations are closed.
Regent Chair Susan Guess said the offerings will help with recruitment and re-energize the Curris Center.
The university approved outsourcing dining earlier this year. The $35.6 million Sodexo contract is for a 10.5 year period. The company is functioning as an independent contractor and will have exclusive rights over retail sales on campus. The contract also includes renovation to dining areas.
