5 things: Oil spill settlement funds massive hospital cafeteria expansion

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:

George Regional Hospital in Mississippi expanded its cafeteria from 50 to 1,400 square feet with $1.1 million in Gulf Coast Restoration funds from the BP oil spill settlement. “We’ve been here for 70 years, and you think, it would be hard for someone to plan for a cafeteria you need 70 years later," George Regional Health System CEO Greg Havard said. "We’ve needed it for about 20 years. We finally bit the bullet and did it.”

Read more: George Regional Hospital expands café with Gulf Coast Restoration funds

Loyola University Chicago dining workers have voted to ratify a new renegotiated contract with campus dining services provider Aramark that includes a $4.95 hourly wage increase, with an additional $1.80 in hourly raises spread over the next two academic years, effective May 1. Employees will now earn an hourly wage of $21.45 on average compared to around $16.50 under the previous contract, with the pay raise applied retrospectively to the hours employees have worked since Nov. 1.

Related:5 things: UMass to start carbon labeling dining hall meals

Read more: Loyola Aramark Dining Union Members Ratify New Contract Avoiding Potential Strike

The University of Florida has chosen Chartwells Higher Education as the official food provider for campus dining, effective July 1. As the campus’ new food service provider, Chartwells will focus on a number of strategic priorities, including updating the Broward (Fresh Food Company) and Gator Corner dining halls and bringing new, hyper-local brand partners to campus.

Read more: University of Florida Selects Chartwells Higher Education as its Partner for Campus Dining

Goldman Sachs is reporting office attendance is back over 50% amid its push to return to work after the COVID-19 shutdowns. CEO David Solomon said attendance in the company's U.S. offices is "between 50% and 60%," while offices outside the U.S. have even a higher percentage of on-site attendance. Attendance in U.S. offices before COVID were "probably 80%," while offices outside the U.S. were around 100%.

Read more: Goldman Sachs US Office Attendance Up Over 50 Percent Post-COVID

The U.S. Coast Guard Yorktown Training Center in Virginia has received a Proggy Award from vegetarian advocacy organization PETA in honor of its provision of vegan options in its main dining hall, such as lemon-turmeric pasta with sundried tomatoes and pistachios, creamy carrot ginger soup, and jackfruit bulgogi bowls topped with fresh herbs and sesame seeds. “From passionfruit panna cotta to Beyond Bolognese, students at U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown delight in high-quality dishes that are kind to animals, the Earth, and their arteries,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “As demand for vegan fare skyrockets, PETA looks forward to seeing every military base progress to offering healthy, compassionate, and eco-friendly foods.”

Related:5 things: Kent State to offer meal plan with off-campus restaurant swipes this fall

Read more: Coast Guard Training Center Nabs PETA Award for Vegan Dining

Bonus: UC Davis Health reaps the local bounty

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]