Pepperdine Dining Services RFP
UPDATE: Pepperdine Announces New Campus Dining Partner
In 2019, as Pepperdine’s existing dining services contract was nearing expiration, the University began a request for proposal (RFP) process to evaluate our existing dining program, investigate the dining services market, and plan for the future. Through that process, and together with an industry-leading consultant, a committee of stakeholders from across the University evaluated many of the top providers in the industry (including our existing provider, Sodexo) to determine the best partner for Pepperdine. The Pepperdine community was invited to provide feedback on existing and potential providers, listen to finalist presentations, and participate in food tastings. As the committee’s work neared completion, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the conclusion of the process. Over the past several months, the committee reconvened to reevaluate the finalist proposals and complete the RFP process. As a community, we thank all finalists—Sodexo, Bon Appétit, and Chartwells—for their participation and diligent effort during this extended time.
After much consideration, Pepperdine announces the selection of Bon Appétit as the University’s new dining services partner. Bon Appétit will begin service to our campuses on August 1, 2022. Bon Appétit Management Company is a preeminent on-site restaurant company offering full food-service management to universities, corporations, museums, and other specialty venues. A leader in higher education food service, Bon Appétit is based in Redwood City, California, and operates more than 1,000 cafes in 33 states. Bon Appétit is renowned for its delicious food (cooked from scratch on-site every day), excellent customer service, responsiveness to feedback, commitment to responsible sourcing practices, and a team-oriented workplace culture.
We wish to thank and honor Sodexo for more than four decades of service and friendship. Our original partnership began in 1977 with SAGA Food Services, which was later acquired by Marriott, and then Sodexo. This alliance has a combined 45 years in operating our campus food service, and the University is grateful for the commitment Sodexo has shown to Pepperdine. Sodexo has been a dedicated partner, seeing our community through many years of growth and change, and most recently committing to extraordinary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our community safe, even as a labor shortage and other difficulties significantly challenged the food services industry. Food is present in so many aspects of this community’s experience. Sodexo has served our students, faculty, and staff through many wildfires and emergency situations and has helped the University celebrate milestones and mourn losses. We sincerely appreciate their efforts and willingness to continually adapt and grow with our community over the years.
Sodexo will continue to serve the Pepperdine community through the end of its contract, which expires July 31, 2022. Many Sodexo employees have faithfully served the University—some for decades—and are valued members of the Pepperdine family. Bon Appétit encourages continued service at Pepperdine. Sodexo employees will have the opportunity to meet with Bon Appétit representatives and apply to continue working at Pepperdine through the University’s new dining partner.
In the coming weeks, the University will invite the community to thank and recognize Sodexo for its service over the years and to get to know Bon Appétit. Thank you for your engagement throughout this process. We are excited to partner with Bon Appétit and look forward to the future of dining services at Pepperdine. (March 15, 2022)
Dining Services Request for Proposal
Quality food service is an important part of campus life. Events, communities, and relationships are enhanced by great food.
Pepperdine partners with Sodexo to provide food service to the University community. Periodically, it's appropriate to review other providers to keep current with market trends and ensure the University is receiving the best service. As a part of this process, we recently released a Dining Services Request for Proposal (RFP). This means we have issued a description of our Malibu campus and food service needs to various dining services companies, and these companies will prepare and submit proposals for our food services business. The University will review these submissions and narrow down the field to a few finalists. These finalists will make in-person presentations, and the University will make a final decision based on all the information available to either select a new dining services partner or retain the current provider.