If you plan to have a party, meeting or simply a social gathering on campus and want to provide refreshments for the group, you had better check with ARAMARK first.
ARAMARK, The University of Memphis's dining services provider, has an exclusive contract that allows them to restrict outside options when they can provide the same service.
If students wish to have outside catering on campus, they must file an exception request and have it approved five days before the event, according to the food exception guidelines on The U of M website.
Pizzas are the notable exception.
"Pizza is a very personal thing to a lot of people," said Danny Armitage, associate dean of students. "We made an addendum several years ago to give students a choice if they wanted to bring in something like Papa John's or Domino's."
Armitage added that while pizzas are acceptable, the exception does not allow pizza places to fully cater an event.
He cited Garibaldi's, which has a large catering business. For example, bringing in chicken from Garibaldi's would not be approved.
In certain situations, ARAMARK must approve requests if they cannot provide the food needed.
"A primary example would be if a group wanted food strictly kosher or specific ethnic varieties," Armitage said. "ARAMARK probably couldn't provide Ethiopian or authentic Indian food."
If outside caterers are approved, their food may come on campus, however the actual caterers are not allowed.
In addition, the vendor's name may not be advertised anywhere, on tickets, flyers, newspapers or containers that protect the food.
No dining service space or staff may be used.
ARAMARK made $350,000 to $400,000 from the business they generated just catering at The U of M last year.
The U of M is in the third year of a five year contract with ARAMARK. The relationship goes back nearly 18 years.
About five companies bid for contracts on college campuses with the highest bid receiving the contract.
According to Armitage, general sales are also going well.
There are about 5,000 transactions per day at ARAMARK run facilities such as the Tiger Den and the Blue Zone in Richardson Towers.
Sales are up three- to four-percent so far over last year with the number of meal plans increasing from 750 to 1,100.
The kiosks around campus are also popular. Locations around campus include the FedEx Cyber Café, Fred and Ethel's in the Theatre Building and the Patterson kiosk.
Armitage said other academic buildings have requested them because they are "community builders."
Plans include putting an Einstein's Bagels in the library and possibly adding a specialty burrito place and "salad action station" to the Tiger Den. The Taco Bell that was in the Tiger Den until 2003 was removed at ARAMARK's request.
"You have to sell a lot of 59-cent tacos to make money," Armitage said.
Cameron Mallory, sophomore graphic design major, said that he would like to see a burger place like Wendy's added to the Tiger Den, but he is satisfied with what they currently have.
"I eat here during school, so probably about four times a week," he said. "I eat the pizza almost everyday."
