Sodexo Selected to Provide Food Service for Public Universities

Contacts: Janelle Toman, Director of Communications
janelle.toman@sdbor.edu
Tracy Mercer, Information Research Analyst
tracy.mercer@sdbor.edu
 Telephone: (605) 773-3455
Fax: (605) 773-5320
www.sdbor.edu
 
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Thursday, January 27, 2022
 
Sodexo Selected to Provide Food Service for Public Universities
 
PIERRE, S.D. – In an effort to reduce costs by moving to a system-wide food service provider, the South Dakota Board of Regents issued a request for proposals (RFP) and Sodexo was chosen from the three responding vendors.  Sodexo is a leader in food services and facilities management. 
 
The move to a single food service provider for the entire public university system was the result of a recommendation from the Senate Bill 55 Task Force. The SB55 Task Force was a state-appointed task force that studied operations and functions of the public university system over the past year. Each of the public universities previously negotiated its own food service contract with a vendor of its choice.
 
“The SB55 Task Force committee identified the single food service provider as an efficiency and cost savings that could be moved on fairly swiftly,” said Brian L. Maher, the regents’ executive director & CEO.  “Most importantly, a single service provider should deliver a direct savings that we can pass on to our students through their meal plans.”
 
“We are excited to partner with the South Dakota Board of Regents to create a customized solution that we think will not only meet but exceed the expectations of their students, faculty, staff, and guests,” said Jim Fjelstul, COO, Sodexo Universities West. “We will introduce innovative new programming, transforming the campus dining experience through great food, value, and engagement.”
 
“With our new South Dakota system partnership, Sodexo will help reinvent campus life. We will create a memorable dining experience that aligns with the campus’ vision of encouraging the health and wellbeing, engagement, and satisfaction of every customer. We’ve already begun the transition and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of creating a world class dining experience for the campus communities,” said Dannie Crozier, Sodexo senior vice president.
 
Final details of the contract are to be negotiated by March 1 and Sodexo will begin service to the campuses this summer.  The term of the agreement shall run through June 30, 2027, with the option of four additional one-year terms.

About Sodexo North America: Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 56 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, government, Sodexo Live! and other environments daily. The company employs 125,000 people at thousands of sites in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $20B in goods and services from small to large businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., in 2021, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation mobilized more than 11,000 volunteers to distribute 1.8 million meals to help 2.5 million children and adults meet their immediate food needs. Since 1996, the Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed $38 million to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit us.sodexo.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. 
 
About the South Dakota Board of Regents: The Board of Regents has constitutional authority to govern the system of public higher education in the state of South Dakota. Supported by an executive director and staff, the board provides leadership and sets policies for programs and services delivered by its six public universities and two schools serving special K-12 populations. The public universities (and home campus locations) are Black Hills State University, Spearfish; Dakota State University, Madison; Northern State University, Aberdeen; South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City; South Dakota State University, Brookings; and the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. The special schools are South Dakota School for the Deaf, Sioux Falls, and South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Aberdeen.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

source