Seemingly out of nowhere, the OA cafeteria has been switched out by a brand new food provider company called Aramark. While there are many familiar faces (twenty, to be exact), there are also some new ones, along with the new menu items they contributed to our daily lunches.

Nicole Upton, the woman in charge of Aramark at Oliver Ames, explained that to create the menu, they have to follow certain DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) and USDA guidelines such as nutrition standards. After all of this is said and done, they want the students to have food they are interested in eating.

“We try to listen to what students are asking for and what is needed/wanted in the community- basically, what drives meal participation.” said Upton. “ This is the stage we are in now, it’s trial and error and takes a few months to really understand what the students like.”

The menu is very much geared towards what students like and don’t like. Upton has a goal to build a relationship with students where they can share what they thought was good, and the menu can be built around that.

“We have gotten very positive feedback… but we have had some students express concerns about a few things. We welcome feedback and take it seriously; this is how we are able to progress and grow our program.”

The focus on student feedback is key to sticking with their company’s philosophy. Alongside prioritizing student feedback, they also emphasize industry leadership, and technology.

“Aramark…is geared toward creating a positive and engaging dining experience that meets the nutritional needs of the students while reflecting the unique needs of the school community.” 

If there is something you are looking to see on the menu, Aramark is asking for students to just let them know. They are thrilled to be here and working with the student body to make the best menu possible.