CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As students return to classrooms and campuses this fall, Compass Group North America is helping schools, colleges and universities meet students’ evolving expectations through dining experiences that do far more than serve meals. Across its education businesses, Compass Group is combining culinary expertise, hospitality, wellness, and student engagement to help its education partners make dining a more meaningful part of the educational experience.
“Dining is one of the few experiences that touches every student, every day,” said Dennis Hogan, CEO, Compass Education. “Whether it’s helping students fuel performance, discover new foods, celebrate milestones or connect with friends, dining has the power to shape how students engage with their school community. Our teams work closely with each school community to create environments that help students feel supported, connected and excited to be part of campus life.”
This fall, Compass Group teams across the country are expanding programs that promote connection, support student wellbeing and inspire curiosity about food, while tailoring menus, events and activities to the unique culture and needs of each school.
Together, these initiatives illustrate the evolving role of dining in education. Increasingly, schools are looking to dining as more than a foodservice function. It’s an opportunity to support wellbeing, strengthen community and enrich the overall student experience. With national scale and locally tailored solutions, Compass Group is working alongside education partners to meet those evolving expectations.
Supporting the Student Experience
Supporting student wellbeing and belonging is a growing priority for education leaders, and Compass Group is helping schools meet that need through programs that build healthy habits, fuel performance and encourage active lifestyles.
Chartwells Higher Education recently released its 2026 Fall Flavor Forecast, identifying emerging campus dining trends including functional beverages, global flavors, flexible snacking and wellness-focused eating. They also launched Milestones, a new engagement platform that connects dining with key moments in the college journey, from first-year traditions such as Love at First Bite, where students mark the start of campus life through food and connection, to reflective experiences that invite them to write letters to their future selves. These initiatives help Chartwells teams across more than 320 colleges and universities make dining a part of the moments students remember.
Creating Places for Connection and Community
Dining spaces are where students gather, build friendships and strengthen their sense of community. Compass Group is helping education partners make these spaces more engaging, welcoming and connected through innovative dining experiences.
Chartwells K12 introduced Nutrition: Game On, bringing culinary exploration into the cafeteria through chef-inspired recipes, taste tests, hands-on activities and global flavors. Pizza Daze brings fresh energy to one of students’ favorite meals through regional flavors, limited-time offerings and school-based promotions to more than 750 school districts across the country.
CulinArt is also reimagining dining through concepts including Flavor Lab, Indoor Gardens and Pop Up Café, creating opportunities for students to explore new foods, learn where their food comes from and connect with one another.
Inspiring Curiosity and Stewardship
By encouraging exploration and informed decision-making, Compass Group is also helping students develop a deeper understanding of food, agriculture and sustainability.
Bon Appétit Management Company, through its longstanding Fellows Program, places recent college graduates on campuses as sustainability educators and advocates, engaging more than 20,000 students annually through initiatives focused on food recovery, local sourcing and environmental awareness.
Looking Ahead
As the needs of schools, colleges and universities continue to evolve, dining and hospitality can play an increasingly important role in shaping campus culture, fostering connection and enriching the educational experience.
Through its portfolio of education brands, Compass Group combines national scale with deep sector expertise and locally tailored solutions to help education partners create environments where students thrive. By supporting wellbeing, cultivating belonging and inspiring meaningful connections, Compass is demonstrating how dining contributes to student success far beyond the plate.
About Compass Group North America
Compass Group is redefining the food and facility services industry through innovation, operational excellence, and a focus on what’s next. Serving premier healthcare systems, respected educational institutions, world-renowned cultural centers, popular sports and entertainment venues, and Fortune 500 companies, Compass Group delivers tailored solutions at scale. The company is consistently recognized among the world’s most admired companies and leaders in sustainability and innovation. Learn more at compass-usa.com.
Media Contact: Lisa.Claybon@compass-usa.com
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