Alfred University announces a new partnership with Sodexo Campus, a leading provider in high-quality dining and facilities management solutions. This collaboration, which is effective June 1, will enhance the campus dining experience through innovative services and culinary excellence.
The decision comes after several months of thoughtful evaluation and engagement. Alfred University received a total of eight proposals from prospective dining partners, all of which were reviewed by a committee representing students, faculty, and staff led by Melissa Badeau, director of Procurement Services. Through this process, the pool was narrowed down to five finalists.
“This partnership represents much more than a dining contract—it is an investment in the student experience and in the moments that bring our campus community together every day,” said Kim Harvey, vice president for Student Experience at Alfred University. “Dining spaces are places where friendships form, conversations happen, and students build a sense of belonging. We are excited to partner with Sodexo to launch Saxon Dining: a dining experience that supports wellbeing, engagement, and community at Alfred University.”
“We are honored to begin this partnership with Alfred University and to support a campus community so deeply committed to student-centered experiences, connection, creativity, and growth,” said Tim MacTurk, Sodexo vice president of operations. “Sodexo’s commitment to creating memorable experiences and spaces of belonging through food aligns naturally with Alfred’s mission. Our focus will be on listening, collaborating, and elevating the dining program to better campus life and build community for the students we serve.”
The finalists participated in hosting committee members at other campuses they serve, as well as on-campus interviews and presentations to the committee. This provided committee members the opportunity to experience their operations, creativity, and commitment to excellence firsthand through food tastings. In a process that centered student voice, each vendor also made a pitch directly to Student Senate, ensuring meaningful student engagement during every step in this process.
“Sodexo brought tremendous creativity, energy, and enthusiasm throughout the process, and their vision aligned strongly with our goals for campus life and student success,” Harvey commented. “From expanded wellness initiatives and experiential dining opportunities to internships and community-building programming, this partnership opens the door to exciting new possibilities for our students and campus community.”
Saxon Dining will provide the campus community with a host of new culinary offerings, as well as initiatives that engage students with mentorship and experiential learning opportunities.
Among the features of Sodexo’s plans to transform dining facilities across campus are a complete renovation of Ade Hall. The main dining area on Ade’s second floor will include a host of new food stations, including:
- Simply 3: A station free of the top three allergens - milk, gluten and nuts - for allergen-safe dining that enhances safety, menu variety and student satisfaction
- Performance Plate: Healthy, whole foods that fuel performance both on and off the field
- Showcase: The flavor destination that showcases globally inspired recipes
- Savory: Self-serve traditional favorites for breakfast, and regional comfort dishes and global flavors for lunch and dinner
- Slices: Classic flavors, handmade pizzas, calzones, build your own specialties and more
- Mix: The ultimate salad experience with fresh, seasonal salads, proteins, grains, legumes, veggies, dressings and more
- Sizzle: Grill and griddle with burgers, chicken, grilled cheese, fries, veggies and more
- Twists: A customizable pasta kitchen with roasted veggies, daily sauces, breadsticks and more
- Stacked: Custom-made subs, sandwiches and paninis featuring fresh-sliced deli meats and cheeses and crunchy vegetables
- Bliss: Hit the sweet spot with everyday indulgence of popular treats and plant-first options.
- Spoonful: Hearty broth bowls, soups, chowders, and chilis with all the toppings
- Sips: The drinks spot with freshly-roasted, fair-trade certified coffees, herbal teas, soft drinks and infused waters
The first floor of Ade will be remodeled to house dining, retail, and gathering spaces including the “C-Store and Market,” a convenience style store; a “Rec Room” with lounge seating, dining booths, and games. An elevator will also be installed in Ade and the front entrance patio will receive a makeover that includes café-style seating.
New retail offerings at Powell Campus Center include Mediterra: Mediterranean-inspired dishes like customizable pitas and bowls; Tres Habaneros: customizable burritos, tacos, quesadillas, rice and salad bowls; and Natural!: fresh-squeezed fruit juices, personalized acai bowls, & blended smoothies. Sodexo will also create wood-fired pizzas utilizing a university-owned pizza oven, as well as a food truck that will set up at various locations on campus and during athletics contests at the Saxon Hill Sports Complex and the Equestrian Center.
Student engagement will be a key component of the Alfred University-Sodexo partnership. Sodexo actively incorporates student employees into its dining operations, creating meaningful on-campus employment while strengthening the campus dining experience. The company also engages student talent in specialized roles, such as student managers, social media and campus-influencer marketing through our Street Team, and internships in areas including marketing, sustainability and dietetics.
Sodexo plans 60 special events and promotions each semester. They include Mindful dietitian events, Flavor Seekers premium dinner events, Big City Bites events to feature popular cuisines from around the world, culinary celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Kitchen Academy cooking classes, and more. After renovations are completed at Ade, Sodexo will introduce a Ucook station, where diners can create their own meals.
Community Table, the dining and cooking space located in Powell Campus Center, will be reimagined as The Saxon Club, a convenient culinary lounge that can be accessed by a swipe to add value for meal plan holders. Monday through Friday, The Saxon Club will offer a rotation of breakfast, lunch and all-day grazing selections, and in the evenings, it will be a bookable restaurant experience with customizable menu options offered through Sodexo’s catering services team. It will also host special events and collaborations. Sodexo is committed to supporting area businesses, like Alfred bakery-restaurant N’dulge by Nicole, which will be featured in Alfred University’s Starbucks café beginning in the fall.
“Great dining experiences help create vibrant campus communities. Whether students are gathering with friends over a meal, exploring new flavors at a pop-up event, or finding comfort and connection in familiar spaces, these everyday experiences matter deeply,” Harvey said. “We are excited for this next chapter and for the opportunities this partnership will create to enhance connection, belonging, and engagement across campus.”
ABOUT SODEXO: Sodexo North America is a division of Sodexo Group, a global leader in food and services shaping better everyday experiences at every moment in life: work, heal, learn and play. Operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, Sodexo North America is committed to meeting the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and to contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.
