PHILADELPHIA -- ARAMARK Higher Education, a provider of professional services to more than 600 colleges and universities throughout North America, has introduced a new campus convenience store concept, Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) Market, to meet the demand of students looking for fresh, healthy and convenient grab 'n go dining options.
P.O.D. Market combines the corner store with the style of a modern market, featuring grab 'n go dining options for breakfast, lunch or any time of day, including freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, burritos, wraps, sushi and salads, as [image-nocss] well as fresh produce, bakery and coffee selections and traditional essentials found in a c-store.
"Our research told us that students were looking for fresh prepared foods and everyday essentials in one convenient location on campus," said Mark Walker, associate vice president of convenience retailing for ARAMARK Higher Education. "Our goal was to develop a highly customized solution that delivers quality, convenience, variety and value."
Each store will be customized based on the specific needs of the campus community in which the store is located. For example, one campus may offer a wide range of organic and kosher products, while another will feature a more traditional selection.
P.O.D. Market was designed to engage students about the foods they eat, offering information about their place of origin and nutritional value. Product cues clearly identify food items as vegan, organic, kosher, locally-grown, gluten-free, low-carb or fair trade.
P.O.D. Market was piloted in the fall 2008 on three campuses, including Brandeis University, University of Tennessee and The University of Toledo. Additional locations are planned for rollout over the next three years.
ARAMARK Higher Education offers services to the dining, facility, conference center and stadium and arena markets. It is in more than 600 colleges and universities throughout North America.
Philadelphia-based ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing foodservices, facilities management and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas and businesses worldwide.Click the Download Now button to view a store interior.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.