We’ll be seeing some changes in the cafeteria on the Vermont campus in coming weeks as the New England Culinary Institute shifts its business model away from operating a cafeteria such as ours.
Beginning June 3, Sodexo will take over our food service and will rebrand dining on campus as “eat> at National Life.”
All of the current employees of NECI working on the National Life campus are expected to shift to Sodexo, including Chef Emma Cutler, who will be general manager.
Sodexo has committed to purchasing as much food locally as possible through its “Vermont First” program.
It provides food service at more than a dozen universities, hospitals and companies in Vermont, including the University of Vermont, Husky Injection Molding Systems and Northern Vermont University.
In fiscal 2017, almost 83 percent of the maple syrup served in those places came from Vermont, 79 percent of the carrots, 100 percent of the ground coffee and 36 percent of the potatoes.
The company is committed to growing those numbers and some of its operations are affiliated with the Vermont Fresh Network Farm & Chef Partnership to further the goal.
NECI is entering into a partnership with Sodexo to continue teaching classes in the National Life kitchen classrooms.
And NECI will also be offering training to Sodexo employees. In turn, Sodexo will offer internships to NECI students.
No immediate changes are expected to the café, as Sodexo has dubbed our operation. But there will be changes to the credit card software and anyone who still has a balance on NECI gift cards might want to use it up before the end of the month.
We’ll keep you posted on any updates as the change in operation approaches.