READING, Pa., June 4, 2020 — Aladdin has been awarded an extension on its food and beverage contract at Alvernia University in Reading, Pa. As a specialist in higher education dining with a proven record of success increasing board plan participation and retail dining opportunities, Aladdin will add national retail brands that are popular with students, continue to enhance the food experience through a resident dining renovation, and will offer a new dining experience for Reading CollegeTowne, the expansion of a new Alvernia University campus.
Aladdin, a part of the Elior North America family of hospitality companies, was first awarded Alvernia’s food service contract in 2002 to bring exciting dining venues, quality fresh food and a high level of creativity to campus dining.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Alvernia University,” said Greg Lepore, client partnership director with Aladdin. “President Loyack has a great strategic vision for the future of Alvernia, and we are dedicated to setting dining trends that align with the university’s mission.”
As part of its exciting future additions, Aladdin will renovate an existing coffee shop into a new Starbucks “We Proudly Serve” location to offer freshly brewed Starbucks coffee, hot and cold espresso drinks, Tazo Teas, Island Oasis Smoothies, freshly baked pastries, deli sandwiches, and salad items.
Renovations within the existing resident dining venue will include new made-to-order items that cater to the needs of today, providing the latest in just-in-time cooking for pizza, grill, Mongolian, comfort food, and a new robust grab-and-go program. The new flow will help to eliminate lines during the lunch rush and empower students to dine on their schedule as Aladdin’s service model moves to continuous dining and an unlimited meal plan option.
Aladdin will also debut the school’s new yet-to-be determined retail outlet at Alvernia University’s new campus in downtown Reading, Reading CollegeTowne. Aladdin will collaborate with the university and students to determine the right brand for the right student during the first year of operation under the new contract. The new Reading CollegeTowne area will be a convenient dining destination and will promote a safer shopping environment for students, as they won’t need to leave campus for essentials or a quick bite to eat on-the-go.
“We look forward to our renewed dining relationship with Alvernia University and partnering with them to create exciting campus destinations,” added Lepore.
About Aladdin
Aladdin has more than 40 years of experience, and as part of the Elior North America family of hospitality companies, the company focuses on building strong client partnerships while leveraging the resources of our global organization. Our teams understand that enhancing the educational experience is more important than ever and we work to develop a comprehensive culinary management program to meet each client’s needs. Our programs focus on ways to engage and inspire students, staff, and guests by creating flavorful, high-quality, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to fuel and energize growing minds each day. Aladdin is committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives by creating unique culinary experiences for each local community that we serve.