Learn More About Laker Food Co.
Student Costs
Meal Plans
- Lower Meal Plan rates than other Michigan universities/colleges
- Over $800 less per semester than average Michigan meal plan costs
- See the cost comparison chart
- 10 Meal Plan options ranging in price from $200 - $1,875/semester (‘20/’21)
- Cost of contracted dining vs. becoming GVSU self-operated dining
Financial Assistance for Food
- Food Funding via Financial Aid
- Students with financial hardships can request aid specific to food purchasing on campus
- Student Employee meal benefit
- In addition to hourly wages, Laker Food Co. student employees earn 1 meal for every 4 hours worked
- Learn more about student employee benefits

Student Care
Laker Meal Share
- Initially part of Swipe Out Hunger
- Ability for students to donate meals to fellow Lakers
- Learn more about the Laker Meal Share Program
- Collaborative program with Dean of Students Office
Unused Portions
- Unused Portions collaboration with Replenish, GVSU's student food pantry
- Unused portions from catered events individually packaged and given to Replenish for distribution
GVSU Endowed Scholarships
- Funded endowment that provides 2 annual GVSU scholarships, est. 2012
- Campus Dining – Aramark Pathway Endowed Scholarship, amount varies
- Campus Dining – Aramark Student Excellence Scholarship, up to $1,500
Annual $10k Donation Fund
- Supporting student organizations and departmental efforts
Nutrition / Health
Registered Dietitian
- Free consultations for students
- Meet the Laker Food Co. Registered Dietitian
- Nutrition programing, cooking demos, workshops and giveaways
Vegan & Vegetarian
- See the Vegan/Vegetarian Guide
- Percentage of vegan/vegetarian meal options: 38%
Made without Gluten
Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA)
- Collaborative, 3-year commitment with numerous GVSU departments
- Initiated in 2016 and met all requirements by program deadline
- See PHA accomplishments
- Nutrition programing, cooking demos, workshops and giveaways
Allergen Management
- See the Quick Guide
- View the Food Allergen Guide
- Ingredient and nutritional information available at dining locations
- Online ingredient information (Fresh Food Center Plate & Green Plate)
- Allergen station available inside Kleiner Market and inside Fresh Food
- Self-serve allergen station stocked with specialty products
- Separate utensils, cutting boards, microwave, toaster, waffle iron (Fresh Food)
- Individually packaged food products to reduce cross-contact



Student Engagement
- Voice of the Consumer (VOC) daily feedback system
- Real time, mobile feedback platform that sends email to manager of the location
- Give Fresh Food Co. your feedback
- See February - March 2021 VOC stats
- Food Committee
- Open to all students, meets every 3 weeks during Fall and Winter semester
- Annual Dining Styles Survey
- Online survey open to the entire campus community (students, faculty, staff, administration)
- See 2019 Dining Style Results
- Email Laker Food Co. at [email protected]
- Social Media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
- Social Media Polls
- Fresh Food Co. Street Team
- A group of student employees that educate GVSU students about Laker Food Co. initiatives.

The Street Team handing out candy at a GVSU event.
Sustainability
Sourcing
- Over 30% local spend
- Use of local food distributor since 2014, Gordon Foods, headquartered in Grand Rapids
- Use of local dairy since 2010, Cedar Crest Dairy in Hudsonville, MI
- Partnership with GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP)
- In 2008 Campus Dining donated $5,000 toward construction of the initial hoop houses at the SAP
- Agreement to purchase produce from SAP since 2014
- Watch the GVSU Farm to Table process
- Use of Cage-Free Eggs since 2011
- Use of compostable serviceware including straws and bags since 2009
- Made in Michigan product features
- Available at Lobby Shop in Kirkhof, POD Kleiner, POD Connection and Seidman Cafe on Pew Campus
- Featuring products from: Cherry Bay Orchards, Gourmet Concessions, How Sweet It Is Fudge & Candy Co., The Gluten Free Bar, and Pop Daddy Popcorn
- See the Sustainability Purchasing Map
Campus Events & Support
- GVSU Farmers Market
- Host a stand and prepare lunch
- Cooking demos and giveaways
- GVSU Recyclemania partner (Now Race to Zero Waste)
- The Zero Waste college competition focuses on waste reduction and zero waste efforts campus-wide and compares their results to other campuses. Participants track all sources of waste generation in three campus buildings during the eight-week competition.
- See current results
- Laker Food Co. Green Team
- Student team focused on sustainability
- Weigh the Waste, track compost success, educate peers in regard to waste sorting and ideation development
- Strong working relationship with Facilities Services to manage waste streams
Accolades
- Laker Food Co. staff members recognized as “Sustainability Champions” by GVSU's Office of Sustainability
- Colin Yonkers - 2019, Aaron Johnson - 2018, Raymond Kusmack - 2016, Darius Leverette - 2015, Ethan McCann - 2010
- Green Restaurant Certification
- Achieved at Engrained in 2014
- Qualified for certification renewal every year since receiving the distinction
- Increased certification audit score from 175 to 183.46 in 2019

Some of the compostable service-ware that Laker Food Co. uses.
Community Support
- Student Organization Support
- Reduced cost catering menu for student organizations
- Merchandise and financial donations, program collaborations
- Participation in GVSU Relay for Life
- 2007 – 2016 generating $90,100 over 10 years
- GVSU's Largest On-Campus Student Employer
- Food donations to Mel Trotter Ministries and Feeding America
- Campus Dining staff members working as GVSU Adjunct Faculty in HTM, Movement Science and Recreation & Wellness
- Support of the GR Veteran’s Home since 2017 with food donations, card writing promotions
- Adopt a Highway (est. 2007)
- Support of Kids Food Basket since 2017
- Team outreach, purchasing/donating food, creating snack packs/dinner bags and decorating lunch bags
- Participation in the Allendale Chamber of Commerce & Rotary Club
- Participation in the Allendale Fourth of July Parades and Community Celebrations
- Employee Service Projects - canned food drives benefitting Replenish & local food pantries
- Food donations to support displaced Grand Rapids hospitality workers during COVID-19 pandemic

Laker Food Co. staff pose for a photo during Adopt a Highway Cleanup in 2017.
Society
Aramark Resources
- Learn about IN2WORK, a rehabilitative program
- Sourcing Responsibly
- Green Thread, a corporate sustainability approach
- Be Well. Do Well.