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Georgia Gwinnett College has entered into a partnership with Aladdin, a food service provider specializing in higher education dining, beginning July 1.

Aladdin was selected for its high standards in procuring top-quality fresh food, student-centered service, experience with many colleges and universities, commitment to providing the latest in culinary trends, and adherence to strict food safety practices.

“We are excited Aladdin will provide dining services to our campus community. We believe that our missions are well-aligned, making this partnership a great fit for our campus,” said Victoria Ruzeski, director of Auxiliary Services.

Aladdin will transition the college’s dining program with a full Ecolab Sanitation Audit and establish its “SafeCafe” initiatives to ensure the facilities are primed for students, faculty and staff upon opening for the fall semester.

New additions include Aladdin’s BeWell wellness approach which encourages positive behavioral changes through on-campus promotions, wellness education programs, and other activities.

Aladdin’s Season Harvest, a plant-based food program, also will offer menu options using fruits, vegetables and whole grains to accommodate vegetarian lifestyles.

“Aladdin’s chefs will work with students, faculty and staff to design menu items that accommodate their diets to keep them healthy,” said Kelly Burke, Aladdin district manager.

The Grizzly Dining residential program will include innovative menus with complete allergen and caloric information along with monthly special events to keep the dining program fresh and exciting. Chefs will prepare fresh, customized dishes in front of students at food preparation stations. Each station will engage customers through innovative culinary techniques, which will be a focal point in the dining program.

The Grizzly Dining retail program at the Building A Food Court will continue to feature Chick-fil-A, Panda Express and the General Store.

The Kaufman Library will remain home to the GCC Starbucks and Building B will continue to house Einstein’s Bagels.

“Weekly and monthly promotions such as Meal Deals, BOGOs and Loyalty + Rewards will provide value at each location,” said Burke.

The food service industry follows strict local public health guidelines. To meet these guidelines, GGC will have safety protocols and best practices in place using guidance from ServSafe and The National Restaurant and Georgia Restaurant associations, which have worked with the latest state-issued executive order on how to re-open. This also includes recommendations from the FDA and the Georgia Department of Health.

“Along with recommendations from all retail brands and our new food service provider, we feel that this layered approach will allow us to resume operations that provide social distancing while allowing the service to continue. More information will be shared with our campus community as we reimagine Grizzly Dining,” said Ruzeski.