Sodexo aims to expand its community-oriented convenience stores on college campuses

Sodexo’s Food Hive convenience stores aren’t like just any convenience store; instead they focus on community, offering products from local partners and women and minority-owned businesses. The Food Hives also keep student demands in mind with their cashless payment experience and range of offerings.

“We know that Gen Z prefers shopping experiences that support their community while getting what they want as fast as possible with frictionless checkout,” Drew Nannis, head of marketing at Sodexo, in a statement. “Food Hive delivers just that, fueling stronger campus communities and providing the convenience today’s students need.”

This demand is backed up by insights that Sodexo has collected from students themselves, through its in-house research initiative and student insights community, Sodexo’s Quad Squad. According to those insights, Gen Z students prioritize convenience options that provide variety and healthy options. Frictionless payment also appears to be another key trend.

And now, the foodservice provider is focusing on expanding Food Hives on college campuses. Sodexo is working on a goal of opening about 30 locations on college campuses during the 2024-25 school year and it has just updated that goal with the aim of opening 100 markets at colleges by 2026.

"I'm delighted to announce the upcoming Food Hive concept at NAU,” said Rose Wilson, district manager for Sodexo at Northern Arizona University. “This innovative c-store will not only provide our students with a diverse selection of hot and cold food options but also meet their personal and grocery needs. The modern flow of the store, including self-checkout, will enhance efficiency and convenience for everyone. I can't wait for our students to experience this fantastic one-stop-shop addition to our campus when we open in the spring of 2025.”