About 1,700 students attended the food show hosted by Sodexho, which gives vendors the opportunity to present new product offerings to students and gives students the opportunity to sample foods they otherwise wouldn’t have access to on their meal plan.

Students are encouraged to sign up for meal plans for the next year at the food show, though students are still able to buy into a meal plan before or after the show. According to Candy Brennan, Sodexho gets between 500-600 signups at the event. She said that getting students to sign up early allows Sodexho to go to vendors and get better pricing for their product. “If we can go to a vendor and say we’ll need this much of that product next year, we can get a better idea of how much it will cost. That helps to bring costs down.” Students still have until August 27 to cancel their meal plans if they change their minds, she noted.

“It’s the most amazing thing that has been in the Commons all year!” proclaimed Diana Marsh ’10. Sitting at a table and munching on some of the goods that she acquired, she noted that she had barely used her meal plan this year, but that this show had almost made it worthwhile. “Almost,” she reiterated. Marsh said she doesn’t plan to get a meal plan next year. “If they did this every day, I’d totally get a meal plan. I feel like I’ll get more use out of my money without one,” she said.

Justin DeCell ’09 came to the food show for the second time this year. He currently has a meal plan and plans on getting one next year. DeCell said that the food show did not impact his decision to renew by much. “I’m still living on campus, so I’ll still be getting one,” he said. Nonetheless, DeCell praised the food show: “The free food is awesome, and the quality is higher than what is normally here.”

According to Harold Townsend, a food service representative with Pepsi, the event is about supporting Sodexho and introducing products. “If they consume it here and they like it, they’ll buy it on the street,” he said. Pepsi returned to the vendor food show for their eighth time this year, showcasing samples of its flavored bottled water, Aquafina.

Joe Soboti of Dawn Food Products concurred with Townsend, saying that it’s a win-win event for the vendors and Sodexho. “The more students that buy into the meal plan, the better our business,” he said. Dawn Foods provides the raw product that Sodexho uses to make its baked goods every day.

Even with all the free food, there is one problem, said Patty Stargensky, food service director for Sodexho and organizer of the event. Every year, students come into the show with bags and attempt to abscond with as much of the free food as they can. “Vendors usually bring enough product. Nonetheless, we do have to try to work with them to ensure that they don’t run out too fast, things such as not putting out all their stock to begin with,” she said. One student, with his bag filled with free food, noted that there was “not enough prepackaged food” which would be easier to bag. “I expected to be able to get my entire week’s worth of snacks,” he said.

According to Stargensky, of the thirty-five vendors attending this year’s show, only three vendors are new. She noted that many of the vendors are launching new product lines, especially more nutritional foods including whole grain, zero trans fat, and organic foods. “They are bringing in new products that students maybe haven’t tried before,” she said.

Sodexho also uses the food show to get targeted feedback about possible products that it should incorporate into its offerings. Surveys are distributed at the exit, and students are encouraged to note which products they liked and to give comments on the food show.