St. Louis Schools Choose Chartwells/Thompson

St. Louis Public Schools has terminated its foodservice contract with Aramark and turned management of the district's food and nutrition program over to Chartwells School Services and Thompson Hospitality Services. Chartwells and Thompson (a minority owned business that has a strategic partnership with Chartwells parent Compass Group North America to co-manage select public foodservice contracts) received a one-year deal whose cost is contingent on overall student enrollment and on the number qualifying for federally subsidized school meals.

St. Louis had self-operated its foodservice program until 2004, when it engaged Aramark, and the district's special administrative board, which assigned the contract, is reportedly considering that option again.