York University’s Food Services announces its new “YU Eats” program in partnership with Chartwells, the educational division of Compass Group Canada.
Following a rigorous Request for Proposals (“RFP”) process to identify a food services company that would mirror York’s commitment to offering an exceptional dining experience for its students, faculty and staff, Chartwells was selected.
The University aims to provide the community with the best quality of food and food options on campus. “People have come together around food for millennia. Food services are integral to providing a positive student experience and to community development, particularly on our campuses,” said Anthony Barbisan, executive director of the Ancillary Services Department. “We asked for a lot of different ways for food services to be enhanced based on our extensive consultations with the community and our new partner, Chartwells, addressed them all. I am optimistic that together with Chartwells, we will build a leading-edge dining program with food outlets and menus that will engage the entire community, delivering on quality, wellness, sustainability, inclusion, authenticity and affordability.”
The new “YU Eats” program, which launches this fall, will bring many exciting enhancements, including:
- Scratch-made meals that are authentically prepared by new culinary teams led by Chef Roderick Gruffydd, director of culinary. YU Eats also welcomes Glendon’s new Executive Chef, Frederic Pouch.
- Menu rotations that provide greater variety and a wider range of global fare that reflects the diversity of the York community.
- Inclusion of progressive Indigenous cuisine in partnership with Chef Jenni Lessard, based in the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan on Treaty Four Territory, and the homeland of the Métis.
- A significant increase in the availability of nutritious plant-based meals.
- Coffee from Birch Bark Coffee Co., a First Nations owned business that offers organic, Fair Trade and SPP-certified coffees.
- New franchise outlets including Copper Branch and Palgong Bubble Tea.
- Partnerships with local chefs and food halls to provide experiences including the Virtual Kitchen Collective and the Upper East Food Club .
- A new online catering portal, Spoonfed, which includes discounts for student organizations.
- Local sourcing, micro-farming, waste reduction and other sustainability and food security programs.
To learn more about food services at York and to stay up-to-date on the latest enhancements, visit the Food Services website.