New dining services provider for Cornell College

Starting on July 1, Cornell’s dining service will be provided by Bon Appétit, an award-winning restaurant company whose clients include a growing number of colleges nationally renowned for their food service.

The new provider is the result of a process that took most of a year and involved presentations by several companies and visits to college campuses across the nation by students, faculty and staff.

Bon Appétit is renowned for its methods of cooking from scratch, fresh daily variety, healthy options, and commitment to sustainability. Students served at colleges by the company rate their dining experiences as outstanding according to several annual rating publications. Earlier this year, Bon Appétit client St. Olaf College was rated the nation’s best dining program by Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Another client, Washington University, was rated the top university for food lovers by The Daily Meal online publication. Cornell College’s new general manager, transition team and district manager will come from Washington University’s award-winning program.

“As a residential college, we’re committed to providing the best possible dining experience to our students, and we believe Bon Appétit will do that,” said John Harp, Cornell’s vice president for student affairs. “We were also impressed by their commitment to sustainability and local farmers. We’re excited to begin this new partnership.”

The new food service provider coincides with the start of renovations at the Thomas Commons, the central location for student life on Cornell’s campus and location of the dining hall. Plans include a revised and expanded food service area and an additional dining room.

Cornell joins more than two dozen Bon Appétit college clients, including Macalester, Oberlin and Reed colleges, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT.