Dining Services Wins National Account of the Year Award
UNC Charlotte Dining Services has been honored as the National Account of the Year by Chartwells Higher Ed, standing out among more than 300,000 associates from North America and Canada. As one of only 109 winners this year, the team was recognized at Compass Night of Stars, a prestigious award ceremony celebrating excellence in dining services across the country.
Paul Johnson, vice president of operations for Chartwells, is proud to have received the award for Dining Services.
“I was incredibly honored to have accepted the Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services Account of the Year Award on behalf of the amazing dining team at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion and dedication that every member of our team demonstrates daily.”
The recognition highlights UNC Charlotte Dining Services’ outstanding contributions to enhancing campus dining experiences for Charlotte students.
Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, the team made significant strides in improving food service, sustainability and student engagement. Notable achievements include completing over 45,000 Starship robot deliveries, serving 207,000 more meals at campus dining halls than the previous year and opening five new dining locations.
Director of Auxiliary Services Jody Thompson has been impressed with Dining Services’ recent progress and looks forward to all the projects already planned for the fall 2025 semester.
“It’s exciting to see our amazing dining services team receive recognition at this level. This program has evolved so much, and their passion and dedication to their craft deserve to be celebrated! I look forward to continued success through this partnership.”
Jody Thompson, director of Auxiliary Services
Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 academic year, Dining Services continues to innovate. The department has streamlined its HR onboarding process, launched the Niner Diners podcast and gained national attention with an ESPN feature on its new concessions sandwich offering.
Fall 2025 will bring a renovated Upper Prospector with more diverse dining options, including the opening of The Halal Shack, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant, The Oasis, with a sports-bar-like atmosphere and delicious coffee and ice cream-based treats, and Qdoba, a national favorite known for its bold, Mexican-inspired dishes made fresh.
Student engagement remains a priority, with 735 student employees hired for the spring 2025 semester. Dining Services has also worked closely with the Student Government Association to incorporate student feedback into menu offerings. A direct result of this collaboration was the introduction of a Boba food truck, fulfilling a top request from Charlotte students on the annual Voice2Vision surveys.
Internship opportunities within Dining Services continue to grow, with seven students currently engaged in quality assurance, graphic design and nutrition roles. One intern successfully launched a pilot business plan that resulted in the deployment of an Auntie Anne’s food cart near Belk Plaza, providing an additional convenient dining option on campus.
Doug Lape, associate vice chancellor for Business Services, believes this award reinforces Chartwells’s work over the years partnering with the university to offer current students both short-term skill building and long-term career prospects.
“This well-deserved recognition isn’t just about our first-class dining facilities and quality on-campus food offerings. It also celebrates the work the team has done to build successful student internships that provide opportunities for future employment with Chartwells and Compass Group – Chartwells’ parent company and the largest food service provider in the world with their headquarters right here in Charlotte,” said Lape.
Doug Lape, associate vice chancellor for Business Services
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Dining Services’ mission. According to Chartwells’ Sustainability Scorecard for fall 2024, the team served 306,720 certified humane cage-free eggs, 8,781 gallons of rBGH-free dairy products and 192,094 lbs of reduced antibiotic poultry. Additionally, they sourced 12,599 lbs of local produce in support of American family farmers, 3,750 lbs of sustainable seafood and 124 lbs of Eco and Fair Trade-certified coffee.
UNC Charlotte Dining Services’ commitment to quality, sustainability and student engagement has set a new standard for campus dining. As they continue to innovate and expand, students, faculty and staff can look forward to even more enhancements in the years to come.
