In brief

FM Staff

An Associated Press review of scientific studies examining 57 federal nutrition education programs in schools found that only four showed any real success in changing the way kids eat. The news service cited various reasons for why the programs have had such little success, including poverty, the bad examples set by parents and the influence of advertising by food and beverage companies. The federal government spent $696 million this year on childhood nutrition education

The University of Tennessee has agreed to a five-year contract with Sodexho to run concessions operations at all its athletics venues beginning in fall 2007. Previously, the athletics department managed concessions.

Centerplate, Inc., has named Kay Towner vice president of sales and marketing. Towner most recently served as vice president of sales, marketing and event services for the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. Previously, she served as national director of sales and customer relations for Aramark,.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn has introduced a series of meal plan options for the first time. Primarily a commuter school, UMD is offering the declining balance based system on student M-Cards, with a modest discount (e.g., $15 on the $100 Gold plan) as incentive.

Black Hills (SD) State University plans to outsource its dining services to A'viands, a move recommended by a task force that reviewed five prop osals from outside vendors as well as from the currently self-operated dining services. The change becomes effective at the end of July. BHSU had been the only state university in South Dakota not to outsource its dining operations.

The National Restaurant Association has named Dawn Sweeney president/CEO, effective October 1. She replaces Steve Anderson, who left the organization in January to serve as president/CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Sweeney was previously president/CEO of AARP Services Inc.

Portland State University and food service provider Aramark have completed a new 10year food service contract, which includes $1.65 million inplanned investments that Aramark will make on facilities like a new dining hall and a newly remodeled Smith Memorial Student Union food court.

Sodexho Alliance SA reported third-quarter sales increases of 2.7 percent, attributable primarily to new contracts in the U.S. and service vouchers in Latin America. In North America, where Sodexho gets 40 percent of its revenue, sales rose 7.7 percent excluding acquisitions as the company added catering contracts for Walt Disney Co. in California and Pfizer Inc., along with facilities management business at hospitals in Missouri and Illinois.

A team of four Delaware North Companies Sportservice chefs have earned the gold medal at the 13th Annual Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference, held at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The team was comprised of DNC Sportservice Corporate Chef Rolf Baumann, TD Banknorth Garden Executive Chef Kevin Doherty, Legends at TD Banknorth Garden Chef Patrick Kilduff and Executive Chef of Agganis Arena Paul Hartz. Fifteen teams from North America took part in the competition and competed for American Culinary Federation medals.