A Combi-Concept

Everyone loves free stuff — college students especially. At The Provisions On Demand (P.O.D.) Market at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, sampling also drives sales and helps to promote new items.

“Local produce and cage free eggs remain our two best sellers, closely followed by Honest Tea,” says Jessica Hill, director of retail for Brandeis University Dining Services.

Similar to Vermont's Marché, The P.O.D. Market combines all the charms of a corner store with the convenience of a modern market. Most importantly, the store offers all of those necessities near and dear to a college student: health and beauty aids, snacks, coffee, fair trade items and freshly made sandwiches and salads. Not everything is organic, all natural or sustainable, though; so competitive shopping helps to drive sales.

“When The P.O.D. Market was designed, an open air cooler was designated specifically for organic products,” says Hill. “There is a produce section that features sustainable, locally grown produce with signs that identify which products are local.”

Demand for these products has continued to increase since the store opened in August 2008, adds Hill. In response, Dining Services has expanded the number of vendors they use and products they offer. Even with an expanded network, fluctuating prices are a constant challenge.

“The students are aware of the produce issues and understand the local selection changes seasonally,” she says. “We work closely with the vendors so that we know what is available, for how long and for how much. This helps us with our marketing efforts.”

Underscoring the school's sustainability initiative, The P.O.D. Market also sells travel coffee mugs and offers refills for 99 cents to encourage less paper use. “We sell reusable shopping bags, filtration pitchers and replacement filters for students to use in their dorms to cut down the bottle usage,” says Hills.

“We also sell reusable water bottles and, beginning in the spring semester, we will be selling reusable to-go containers.”

More Than a Store

At The Employee Store at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Durham, NC, eco-convenience extends well beyond food to include a vast range of products and services such as clothing made from recycled materials and items like soda bottles. It also features a variety of organic snack items, Shade Grown Coffee, environmentally-friendly dry cleaning services, locally-grown items, and bags that are made out of recycled or composted materials.

“We look at it this way,” explains Alan Wood, Aramark General Manager at the EPA. “The more services and products we offer the more it makes us a much more sustainable provider. The more we keep our guests from leaving the campus, the more we reduce the emissions that driving off site would create.”

“Working outside the box is not always easy, but because we are located in North Carolina, we have access to locally-packaged meats and locally-grown fresh produce, in addition to other items,” says Wood.

“This program is extremely important to the client and the demand has increased continuously, especially over the past few years.

“Our practice of incorporating eco-friendly products has become progressively easier as new products come on the market,” says Wood.

“Additionally, this initiative has contributed to the greater goals of the operation: The Employee Store helps the staff of the EPA reduce their own carbon footprint.”

So On And So Forth…

Xcetera, located in the heart of the University of Oklahoma's on-campus residence hall community, provides students with a range of healthful, flavorful and locally sourced options. Since it's grand opening five years ago, Xcetera has been the on-campus “go-to” for heat and serve entrees, snacks, personal-care items and much more.

In the last two years, the student population has been a driving force in the increased availability of healthier, natural and organic items within Xcetera. So much so that a section of the store is devoted to “Au Naturale” items. Residents are able to quickly identify where these items are within the store and browse from snack items such as all natural bagged popcorn, gluten-free cereals, trail mix, spreads, salsas, desserts and meals.

“We also offer eco-friendly cleaning supplies, chap stick, shampoo and conditioner,” says Lauren Royston, Marketing and Public Relations Specialist for OU's Housing and Food Services. “We continually research new local vendors that may have items of interest for our residents. Then as new or additional items become available that may interest our residents, we introduce those items into the store.”

Availability of organic items is an obstacle OU sometimes encounters. As is stocking and turnover. “Organic items do not contain preservatives,” says Royston. “Expiration dates come much sooner than with traditional convenience foods so its important to stay on top of the inventory.”

Second Helpings

More info on sustainable C-store product strategy is available on FM's website:

Ahead of the Curve with Oregon State University's Associate Director of University Housing and Dining Services, Richard Turnbull - View the story here.

Video Walk-Through of Miami University's Market Street at McCracken - View the story here.

Best Convenience Retailing - View the story here.

How to Buy from the Little Guy: Sourcing Local Products - View the story here.

Best C-Store Menus Trendy But Traditional - View the story here.

Northwestern University's c-store mix - View the story here.