Starting July 1, Aramark will replace Sodexo as dining service provider across the University.

The email announcement, sent from the office of Jeffrey Gray, senior VP of student affairs, stated that Aramark “was chosen by a committee comprised of students and administrators, headed by [Gray] with support from the consulting firm, which specializes in food service management.” The Request for Proposals (RFP) process began in December, with the final three choices being Sodexo, Aramark and Chartwells/Compass.

Deming Yaun, Dining Services contract liaison, said in a statement, “Fordham is very appreciative and has much respect for Sodexo and its employees and the services they provided here on campus for the last 38 years. Aramark did an outstanding job during the RFP process and we are looking forward to working with them to move Fordham Dining forward.​”

Leighton Magoon, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17 and United Student Government (USG) President, said that “after 30 plus years, change is good. They seem to be open to working with faculty and students. We’ll have to wait and see but they seem to be like a good vendor to work [with].”

Dean of Students Keith Eldredge cautioned students that “change takes time.”

“I think we’re going to see some change by the start of the fall semester,” he said. “Exactly what that’s going to look like, I don’t know. Aramark has presented some wonderful plans.”

He said, “I don’t want to say Sodexo is terrible and that we’re getting rid of them and bringing in someone who knows what they’re doing. Not at all. Sodexo was moving and had been improving satisfaction on campus and I think Aramark’s going to come in with a fresh perspective and look at things differently. “

Sandy Pope, a business manager with Teamsters Local 810, the union which represents the University’s dining service employees, said that “we’re feeling confident that it’ll be a smooth transition.”

“We had a conversation with [Aramark] in which they reassured us that they were planning to hire all of our people, keep their seniority intact and their job classifications … understanding that of course the configuration of the operations could be different,” Pope said.

“Sodexo has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Fordham University,” John Azzopardi, Resident District Manager for On-site Service Solutions at Fordham University for Sodexo, said. “We wish the students, staff, administration and campus community continued success.”