Assumption swaps dining services provider as university prepares for $1M renovation of dining hall

Photo | Grant Welker Assumption University in Worcester

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Assumption University in Worcester has parted ways with its previous dining services provider, as the school has announced it intends to spend $1 million on upgrading the Taylor Dining Hall on campus.

Starting this fall, Assumption will be partnering with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, a Pennsylvania-based company, according to a university news post published in March. The school cited the company’s ability to align with Assumption’s community and its catholic traditions as a reason for the change.

“We are excited to announce this partnership and what promises to be a transformation of our dining experience at Assumption University,” Greg Weiner, Assumption University president, said in the March news post. “This decision is a direct result of community feedback, especially from our students.”

Aramark works with over 275 colleges and universities, according to its website. New initiatives led by Amarak at Assumption will include expanded late-night and weekend offerings and student internship opportunities related to marketing and nutrition.

Aramark will be replacing former vendor Sodexo, a French company that provides dining services to universities around the world. Assumption has become the second Worcester university to drop Sodexo as a provider in 2024; Clark University announced they would be ending their relationship with the company in April, opting to partner with Pennsylvania-based Harvest Table Culinary Group instead.

The switch of dining services providers resulted in 88 Sodexo employees at Assumption being laid off, according to a WARN report filed by Sodexo to the MassHire Department of Career Services on May 15. The layoff is effective May 29.

The school stated in the March news post that Aramark would be meeting with existing dining services employees later in March. Assumption did not immediately respond to an email from WBJ asking if former Sodexo employees had been offered the previous roles back.

Assumption also announced in March that the school’s Taylor Dining Hall would be undergoing a $1-million renovation that will result in refreshed physical spaces and new food concepts. The school did not disclose when the renovations would be completed.