Food and Dining Program Vendor Selected

Dear students,

More than two years ago, we started a process to enhance food and dining at MIT. I want to thank the many students, faculty, and staff who served on the working groups and selection committee, and the countless community members who have helped us shape the future of food and dining at MIT.

Today, the selection committee has announced that Compass Group, comprising Bon Appetit and Restaurant Associates, has been selected to manage MIT’s new food and dining contract. The seven-year agreement includes house dining, retail dining, and campus catering. Of the three companies that submitted bids, Compass presented the best program concepts and fulfilled key requirements related to program management, social responsibility, and sustainability. Also, Compass is a willing partner in making MIT a food-secure community. One addition to this contract is that Compass will install new management at MIT. And at the committee’s recommendation, the team from Compass will undergo operations reviews each quarter as well as a complete program review every other year, based on key performance indicators, to ensure that our campus has a food program of outstanding quality.

The contract begins on July 1, 2018. Looking at Compass’s plans, I see a lot to get excited about in addition to the new meal plans. When the semester begins, there will be new house dining cuisines and retail concepts, with many more updates to come. I'm looking forward to sharing more details next week on the DSL website and MIT News.

Once again, my thanks to everyone who helped guide us to this decision. If you have any thoughts on the future of food and dining on campus, please contact Mark Hayes, our campus dining director.

I am very excited to begin a new chapter in food and dining at MIT this fall.

Best regards,

Suzy M. Nelson
Vice President and Dean for Student Life