On Friday, Jan. 20 at noon, Greens-to-Go replaced Bene Pizza as a result of feedback from a survey taken by students in fall 2016 and a decrease in sales at Bene Pizza.
Senior Director of Longwood Dining Services Grant Avent described the decrease in overall traffic at Bene Pizza that started in 2013 when the brick oven pizza station was placed in Dorrill Dining Hall.
He added, "And when the post office closed it really started dropping off. It was our slowest business. It was doing the least sales of anything.”
Greens-to-Go offers a variety of different salads along with a "make-your-own" option, allowing students to personalize their salad. Also included on the menu will be grilled salmon, grilled chicken, fried chicken, grilled beef and tofu, according to Avent.
Additionally, Greens-to-Go offers students the option to have their salad made into a wrap or flatbread.
“It’s definitely much more extensive and much more of a premium salad. It’s not like we took a salad bar from upstairs and just dropped it in, it’s a whole different concept type of salad,” said Ashley Jones, marketing assistant for Longwood Dining Services.
Jones also added there will be a featured salad each week.
The Rotunda reached out to the student body through Twitter looking for thoughts on the replacement.
@longwoodrotunda there was no salad for people w/o meals plans (Einstein doesn't have much of selection) . ❤️the change hope they have kale
— Anthony Caputo (@CaputoAnthony) January 16, 2017
@longwoodrotunda there are healthy options other than salads. we already have plenty of salad bars
— sare (@sarahheathh) January 15, 2017
@longwoodrotunda should've been a mac and cheese bar
— Katy (@katyymarisol) January 16, 2017
@longwoodrotunda if the students asked for more healthier dining options, something more than salad should've been considered. We have that.
— nicole R ✨ (@elnicole93) January 15, 2017
Grant acknowledged the backlash over the announcement of the change, but felt that students were unaware of the level of quality Greens-to-Go provided along with the price point.
“The price point was also something that we looked at because we wanted it to fit into the budget for the students and the price point is between around $5 to the highest salad being under $7,” said Avent.
Avent also said choosing to have double protein will increase the price outside of the given range.
According to the university website, the student union will only host food options for another two years, given that the construction of the new Student Success Center is underway and set to be completed in the Spring of 2019.
“We don’t want to completely change the café for two years. We want to make it something that we can transition fairly easily,” said Avent.
The idea of a healthier food option for students being placed in the student union was presented by Avent to Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Pierson, along with a "Dine With the Directors" event last fall.
Jones said, “Once they see what we have put in, I don’t think there will be much complaining."
“We think this is going to draw more traffic back to the café and give the students what they wanted as far as healthier options,” said Avent.
Avent added, “There is no real cost to Longwood. There is some cost for Aramark for Longwood Dining Services to do this, but we looked at something since it is only for two years that would have less of an impact."
According to Avent, if the Greens-to-Go is a success then there may be consideration for it to be placed in the new Student Success Center.
Greens to Go introduced more healthier options in the Lancer Café.
Greens to Go introduced more healthier options in the Lancer Café.
Greens to Go introduced more healthier options in the Lancer Café.