Mississippi State Dining Services placed third in a national competition among collegiate and university dining services.
The Loyal E. Horton Dining Award competition contained many different categories and divisions. Participants were judged on criteria that included menu selection, food merchandising, food presentation and marketing strategies.
The university was judged not only on the dining services at Perry Cafeteria, but also the other restaurants that are a part of the campus. In the same category and division, California Institute of Technology placed first and State University of New York Geneseo placed second.
“Dining Services has some of the most loyal and hard-working employees on campus,” MSU dining services director Mehrzad M. Netadj said. “I speak for all at Mississippi State involved in feeding the students, employees and visitors when I say how proud and excited we are to receive this national recognition.”
According to the National Association of College and University Food Service Web site, www.nacufs.org, university food services are judged on many criteria. The menu selection area is judged on the variety of menu options, variety of food preparation options and if the food pleases a variety of customers. The dining service is also judged on how periodically new and unusual foods are presented and if nutritional information on the foods is readily available.
When it comes to food preparation and merchandising, the judges look to see if the food is served attractively and if the garnish to the food is a good accompaniment that enhances the flavor or the appearance of the food.
Also, each school’s dining service is judged on whether there are occasional specials and promotions taking place at regular intervals.
The last area that dining services is judged on is marketing strategies. This part of the competition concerns if the menu is clear and legible, if the hours of operation and prices are promptly obtainable and if feedback from students or consumers is used to supervise the achievement of goals that were planned or attempted by the dining service.
“I’m not surprised that Mississippi State got this kind of award,” said Harry Nelson, a sophomore math major who visits Perry Cafeteria about five times weekly. “It’s very convenient, the food’s pretty good, and it’s all a decent price.”
Some students, however, were surprised that State received such an award.
“I’m really surprised that we got that type of award, what with when you compare how many people actually eat in the cafeteria,” said senior broadcast meteorology major, Brad Burton.
Brandon Wade, a sophomore transfer student, compares the food to the community college he went to before he transferred to State.
“The only choices at my community college were chicken and chicken. The variety that State’s cafeteria has is way better than my last college.”
Mississippi State Dining Services plans to continue competing each year.
“This award in indicative of our continuing efforts to improve our service offering for the students,” MSU dining services marketing coordinator Taylor Adams said. “We’re honored to have received it, and we look forward to competing for gold in the 2006-2007 school year.”