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New Dining Service Partners with CAS to Launch ‘Cardinal Way’ at SUNY Plattsburgh

catherine keleher file photo

SUNY Plattsburgh students returned for spring semester to find a new dining experience and changes at venues across campus.

Last fall, College Auxiliary Services — with input from campus constituents and the CAS Board of Directors — selected Sodexo to be its new dining service partner after a competitive bidding process, taking over from Chartwells, which finished out the semester as Sodexo transitioned to its new position on campus.

Sodexo is no stranger to campus, having helmed dining services prior to Chartwells in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Now known as Cardinal Way Culinary and Co. — Cardinal Way for short — the company’s approach “centers on several campus-wide priorities we set for dining services throughout the competitive bidding process,” said Catherine Keleher, executive director of College Auxiliary Services.

Those priorities include:

  • Deliver high-quality, variety and diversity of offerings
  • Provide a program that delivers value
  • Improve food security
  • Shift from a vendor to a partner
  • Design a program that supports all students
  • Ensure fair and consistent pricing
  • Focus on excellent customer service
  • Quality catering service
  • Re-imagine dining areas as community hubs
  • Support real-time flexibility

keleher mug file photoKeleher said that students returning to campus last month found new concepts to try, including changes to Chartwells proprietary menus and offerings.

“Retail concepts such as Einstein’s Bros. Bagels and Halal Shack remain the same with the addition of daytime hours of Jamal’s Chicken, served at Halal Shack and only open at night,” she said. “Kent Café, Chapter One and The Cardinal Market and Café have new menus and offerings.

Refresh of Menus

“Clinton Dining Hall has a full refresh of new menus and stations, including Performance Plate — a station focused on whole foods and healthy eating,” Keleher said. “And the Cardinal Nest offerings now include milkshakes, smoothies, breakfast burritos, smash burgers and an allergen-friendly station, free of peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and gluten.”

Catering services will see a change-up as well, she said, with Cardinal Way using a new Catertrax system with updated menus. The Chartwells Catertrax site is no longer available.

“We have more affordable and refreshed catering menus available,” Keleher said. “Square Tomato is an affordable option for our student groups.

Campus events and department needs will find Green & Gather, with menus that include offerings from coffee breaks to full-service functions, she said.

Meal plan rates will remain the same with any future changes following CAS’ established process through its board of directors.

Additionally, diners will “continue to see many familiar faces. Cardinal Way retained more than 125 employees who worked on our campus under Chartwells,” she said. “Our campus food service employees are unionized, so the transition means that the majority of employees are now working for Cardinal Way.

'Jumped Right in to Partner'

Keleher maintained that “any transition to a new food service supplier is challenging, especially when the timing is condensed over a winter break period,” Keleher said. “Sodexo jumped right in to partner with SUNY Plattsburgh and their expertise. I also appreciate the campus support as we welcome Cardinal Way to SUNY Plattsburgh.

“We look forward to a successful partnership with Sodexo and the positive changes we can provide to Cardinal Country.”

Sodexo manages nearly 500 college campuses nationwide, including SUNY Oneonta, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton, and private schools throughout New York and Vermont including UVM.

“Our goal is to make this change as smooth and low-impact as possible for the campus community,” Keleher said. “We’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”

— Story, File Photos By Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs

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