Dining courts hosting ‘station takeovers’ to test new culinary creations

A representative from Delco takes over the pizza station at Ford Dining Court on April 13. (Photo by Purdue Dining & Culinary)

During the month of April, Purdue Dining & Culinary (PD&C) is allowing its vendors to “take over” a station at each dining court.

The vendors are food suppliers with whom PD&C continues to have a strong working relationship. The vendors set up shop using food items they already provide to the university, but with a twist. They get creative and use the current menu items in new ways, inviting diners (specifically students) to taste a sample and provide instant feedback.

Purdue Dining & Culinary gave the vendors certain parameters, including using one of the following:

• A new product.
• A new product line.
• A current product in a new way.

Misty Snyder, manager of strategic sourcing, said the vendors were encouraged to follow the third option to use an existing product in a new way or a product that fits into PD&C’s buying profile that the vendor would like to introduce.

The takeovers will continue through April:

• Thursday (April 21) – Monsoon at Earhart Dining Court.
• Friday (April 22) – Monsoon at Ford Dining Court.
• April 26 (T) – Fair Market at Earhart Dining Court.
• April 27 (W) – Hormel at Wiley Dining Court.
• April 28 (Th) – J.R. Simplot at Windsor Dining Court.

Snyder said this idea is an opportunity for the vendors to showcase their products. At the same time, it helps Purdue Dining & Culinary stay current with new trends and see which menu items could be popular with Boilermakers.

“The vendors are an extension of our team and allow us to best serve our students," Snyder said. "We are on a first-name basis, and we communicate daily. We all worked together really well to find solutions to the challenges of the past two years, such as rising food costs and availability (supply chain issues). They helped us weather the storm. Now students get to see who we work with, and we can use these takeovers to further put a student voice in the menu selection process."

Snyder said PD&C plans to circle back with the vendors following the conclusion of the takeovers and review the response. There are already biweekly menu meetings, and the feedback from the takeovers will be brought into these conversations. In addition to student feedback, the demand for certain items will be reviewed and considered for potential options on future menus.