How Schools Can Use Micro Markets to Improve Campus Life
A school campus is like a miniature city. Students need to be able to find everything they need on campus, so they can balance their studies and social lives without leaving the grounds.
No single school food service solution is going to accommodate the needs of every student. Instead, it’s a blend of various features that come together to ensure everyone is served properly. Adding a micro market to your mix of options is a great strategy to boost convenience, selection, and overall student satisfaction.
If you have been considering adding a micro market to your campus, or if this is a new idea you would like to explore further, InReach is here to serve you. Contact our experienced team today to learn more.
Meeting the Evolving Needs of Students
Students tend to live life at a fast pace. In addition to having a full schedule of classes to attend, they also have extracurricular activities, social gatherings, study time, and maybe even a job. When you add it all up, there simply aren’t very many hours left in the day for anything else (even something as fundamental as finding food to eat).
Micro markets are the perfect solution for students with too many things to do and not enough hours to do them. A micro market on campus can be open around the clock and can be placed in a central location. Whether walking from one class to the next or taking a break from a library study session, the micro market will make for an ideal stop to pick out a tasty snack and a drink before getting back to work.
Create an Inclusive Food Environment
Inclusivity is a big topic on campuses across the country. Young people recognize the critical importance of ensuring that everyone feels included and welcome. This is a positive change for society as a whole, of course, and your school can support such an environment by considering food preferences and restrictions in your micro market program.
Cultural preferences are a starting point for your food and drink mix. The market should be stocked with a variety of items that appeal to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. You’ll also want to consider choices and limitations such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, organic, and more. Touching on as many categories as possible will open up your micro market to the whole student population equally.
Support a Healthier, More Productive Campus
Every school wants its students to thrive, not just in the classroom, where better nutrition has been linked to better grades, but throughout all areas of life. Offering healthy, convenient food options on campus will help them put a big piece of the wellness puzzle into place.
A student who has recently consumed a high-protein snack and plenty of water, for example, will be better prepared to pay attention during a lecture than a student who hasn’t eaten in hours. Nutrition and hydration are foundational for success in all areas of life, and academics are certainly no exception.
An Upgraded Campus Is InReach
Adding a micro market to your blend of on-campus food options is easy when you work with us on the project. We’ve served countless schools and businesses and will customize the plan to fit perfectly in the space you have available. The new market is sure to be an immediate hit with students and faculty alike.
Proudly part of Sodexo, InReach offers global reach, customized attention, and a large, growing buying network that keeps food costs low and quality high. Contact us today to learn more.