What’s going on with Dining Services: Catch-Up with Kate Cole

Marist Dining Services has seen a lot of changes within the past couple of years. From the opening of the North End to altered Dining Hall hours to the implementation of food trucks, dining services has made many efforts to fill the needs of the student body.

Kate Cole, the Market Specialist with Marist Dining, has brought many ideas on how to best fit student needs.

Marist Circle recently published an article on student responses to the food trucks. It was found that many students thought the prices were too high and were displeased with the variety of food offered. Cole says the entire process of bringing food trucks is a learning experience.

“We have to watch the data to see what is working and what is not. We don’t want to start with too much and it does not work,” said Cole. “Then we will ramp it up.”

The company running each food truck determines the prices for each item. Therefore, the majority of what dining services can do regarding payment is to offer various forms of payment aside from credit, debit or cash.

“It was important to us that you could pay using thrifty or Marist money. So we had to check the POS system to make sure it can do that,” said Cole. “We also had limitations with wifi and making sure we are close to a building.”

Cole and dining services are also working with each truck to create “meal deals” where students can use a meal swipe.

For now, Cole wants to continue offering only one food truck at a time until they see the trucks that students are drawn too. “Never say never with multiple trucks. We listen to the students and go with the trends,” she said. “We have a mid-size campus and the food traffic might not be there, but the future is open.”

For the future, dining services is looking into diversifying food truck offerings. They are looking into bringing in different trucks serving Thai food, Carribean jerk, and a wood fire pizza truck.

“There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. There is liability insurance that we have to ensure the trucks have, health permits, we have to check the menus to see if it is what the students will like,” said Cole.

Marist wanted to give North End residents an option for late-night meals closer to their side of campus. The location was also determined by the need for the truck to be close to a building so they can have wifi and allow for thrifty and Marist money to be used.

They also plan on getting heat lamps for the winter so students can remain warm while waiting in line.

In addition to the food truck news, many students have been concerned about the price of a Rossi’s sandwich in North End Dining Hall.

Last academic year, you could get a 7-inch Rossi’s sandwich for one meal swipe. Now it costs one swipe and an additional $2. Cole says that is strictly a business decision. To maintain the partnership with Rossi’s, they had to evaluate the profit on the business side.

North End also eliminated some food options while introducing others. The 9-inch Rossi’s sandwich and hot dogs are no longer offered, owing to infrequent purchases and stock to make those items often going to waste. “We are conscious of food waste and sustainability is important to us,” said Cole.

Thrifty cash is now reloadable. When you pay with thrifty on campus, you do not pay tax. Now, you can go to my.marist.edu and can reload your card with money. This is similar to Marist money, however, thrifty avoids tax burdens on each item.

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can text MARISTEATS to 822-57, Cole said.

Marist dining services pricing breakdown, and thrifty Cash is now reloadable

MARIST CIRCLE