Case Study

Adding Spice to Campus Dining

The Power of the Fleet

When indoor dining restrictions emerged during the pandemic, the University of New Haven Food Fleet supported their on-campus dining services to keep students fed, engaged, and connected. What began as a rapid-response solution evolved into a fully integrated food-truck dining program – one that enhanced campus life, streamlined operations, and delivered meaningful financial results without disrupting traditional dining hall revenue.

At a Glance

Daily on-campus food truck program

100% turnkey operations: logistics, licensing, scheduling, communication, payments
Meal plan integration for seamless student use
Featured at admissions events, athletics, and residence life programming
Zero impact on dining hall revenue
$25,000+ in additional annual profit with no added labor or overhead
Elevated student satisfaction through variety and speed

A New Model for Campus Dining

When COVID-19 made indoor dining challenging, the university needed a safe, flexible, and student-friendly alternative. Food Fleet stepped in with a comprehensive outdoor solution: a daily rotation of local food trucks supported by full-service logistics, communication, and vendor management. What started as a crisis response quickly proved its long-term value.

Meeting Students’
Needs in Real Time

Traditional dining hours often led to long lines and bottlenecks – a frustration for both students and staff. Food Fleet’s arrival eased peak-time congestion, brought fresh menus to campus each day, and added convenience by integrating with existing meal plans. Students didn’t have to change their habits – the dining experience simply expanded around them.

Customer reaching up to receive a takeout container from a food truck worker through the service window of an orange food truck.

Energizing Campus Life

Beyond day-to-day meals, the food trucks became a vibrant part of campus culture. They anchored accepted student weekends, residence life events, and athletic tournaments, from soccer and field hockey to football. Their presence added personality, flavor, and energy – giving students something to look forward to and talk about throughout the year.

$25,000

in additional annual profit with no added overhead

Results That Go Beyond
the Meal

Early concerns about cannibalizing traditional dining hall revenue faded after year-long analysis confirmed no negative impact. Instead, the program delivered more than $25,000 of additional annual profit with virtually no overhead. By handling all logistics, Food Fleet freed Sodexo and campus leaders to focus on strategy, relationships, and student engagement.

A Blueprint for the Future of Campus Dining

The partnership between Food Fleet and the University of New Haven on-campus dining services demonstrates how innovative thinking can transform challenges into opportunities. Students enjoy more variety and faster service, local food partners gain reliable business, and the university benefits from a dining model that is agile, operationally efficient, and beloved on campus.