5 things: Billboard mocks planned Chick-fil-A in Children’s Hospital

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

 1.    Billboard mocks planned Chick-fil-A at Children’s Hospital of Georgia

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine wants Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta to rethink its decision to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant to open near its ground floor entrance, where a McDonald's recently closed. The group posted three billboards near the hospital that show a young girl in an oxygen mask, lying in a hospital bed and poses the question, “Children’s Hospital: Can a Greasy Fast-Food Meal Help Her Heal?” while mocking Chick-fil-A's slogan with a link to EatMoreChickpeas.com.

Read more: Plant-based nutrition advocates pick a fight with planned Chick-fil-A at Augusta children's hospital

 2.    Aramark partners with Black-owned coffee brand BLK & Bold

Aramark and BLK & Bold, the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand in the U.S., have reached a multi-year agreement that will make the company's lineup of hot and cold coffee products available to Aramark Refreshments clients this year. BLK & Bold can be found nationally in 11,000 retail stores such as Target, Albertsons, Safeway, Walgreens, and various regional grocers, in addition to the workplace. It was listed last year as one of the 50 fastest growing certified minority businesses by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Related:5 tech things: Chartwells looks to add more automated pizzerias to campuses

Read more: Values Beyond the Cup: With BLK and Bold, Aramark Refreshments Expands Minority-Owned Business Commitment

 3.    McKinsey predicts major office space reduction due to remote work trend

A trend towards hybrid and remote work since the pandemic may cut $800 billion from office property values by the end of the decade, according to a recent study by consulting firm McKinsey that reviewed nine major metropolises: Beijing, Houston, London, New York City, Paris, Munich, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Tokyo. “In a moderate scenario that we modeled, demand for office space is 13% lower in 2030 than it was in 2019 for the median city in our study. In a severe scenario, demand falls by 38% in the most heavily affected city,” McKinsey said.

Read more: Worst Case Scenario: Hybrid Work Trends May Result in Office Space Demand Falling 38 Percent by 2030, Says McKinsey

 4.    Stephen Starr upgrades Amtrak menu

Stephen Starr, winner the Outstanding Restaurateur award by the James Beard Foundation in 2017 and the creator of dining destinations such as Morimoto in Philadelphia, Le Diplomate in Washington and Le Coucou in New York, is now serving some of its dishes on the Amtrak Acela train service along the Northeastern Corridor. The debut menu featured chilled sesame noodles from the Continental Mid-town and lasagna al forno from Pizzeria Stella in Philadelphia.

Related:5 things: Nudging tactics help promote healthful workplace dining for Eurest

Read more: Amtrak’s first-class Stephen Starr menu upgrades dining on the rails

 5.    Sodexo names new K-12 unit CEO   

Sodexo has announced the appointment of David Newman as CEO of its Sodexo At School unit, which serves K-12 clients in the U.S., succeeding Stephen Dunmore, who will stay on to help with the transition through the end of August 2023 in an advisory capacity. Newman most recently served as senior vice president of Corporate Finance globally for Sodexo. “As we double down on pursuing our ambitious growth goals, we’re thrilled to have David helm the Sodexo At School segment,” said CEO Sarosh Mistry of Sodexo North America. “He has an outstanding track record in business development. With his leadership and capabilities as well as the talents and engagement of the Sodexo At School team, I am confident we will be successful in accelerating our growth in the U.S.”

Read more: David Newman Named CEO of Sodexo At School

Bonus: FM announces 2023 Best Concept Award winners

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]