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College dining trending: Butler University and Northern Illinois University renovate dining centers and c-stores; a smoothie robot

Also this month, Miami University introduces its own branded coffee, Tulane creates an alien-themed dining experience

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

January 23, 2020

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This month in college dining, Butler University renovated its c-store under its new management company, Compass Group. Called Plum Market Kitchen at C-Club, the new location increased traffic flow and brightened up the former space. 

“The university hired consultants to work with the students and faculty to really understand what the desires and needs were for this space, which was serving pizzas and sandwiches in addition to selling standard c-store fare,” said Joe Graves, Butler Dining general manager. The space was formerly home to several QSR chains like Taco Bell, Burger King and Papa John's but the c-store now provides a salad bar, fresh fruit smoothies and vegan options in addition to the typical c-store fare. Read more about Plum Market Kitchen.

Also working on smoothies is Sonoma State University where a robot called Chef B takes onsite and mobile smoothie orders in the campus's Charlie Brown's Café. The autonomous food robot prepares and serves smoothies that are ordered and paid for via kiosks or mobile, serving eight different smoothies with limited customization.

"We know the community is excited, they love the innovation, especially as we’re not that far from Silicon Valley, which is why we thought it would be a shame not to have such innovation on our campus and be a part of the conversation and what people expect,” said Casey Kelly, marketing manager for Entrepreneurial Activities at Sonoma State. Read more about Chef B and the students of Sonoma State.

See what else was trending this month in college dining.

 

Read more about:

Compass Group

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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