After New Trier’s contract with food provider Sodexo ended at the end of the 2010-2011 school year, the district explored other food services and decided on Aramark as a provider.

According to then principal Timothy Dohrer, it gave New Trier the best return for its money while also servicing the school well. Aramark not only changed the food, but also the style of the cafeteria, adding the U.B.U. lounge, where students could sit on sofas to eat their lunches.

However, controversy has surrounded Aramark in their short time at New Trier.

From the beginning, students and staff complained that food quality decreased. From August of 2011 to October of 2011 complaints over the new food were still high. Students claimed that the food tasted old and was not up to their standards. This resulted in the administration holding forums during lunch periods where students could voice their complaints and become educated on why Aramark was chosen.

Complaints over Aramark died down until the spring of 2013 when students learned about the competition clause.

This clause states that Aramark has the right to ban outside vendors from selling food on school grounds if similar products are sold in the cafeteria.

This put a halt to the popular sales of Jamba Juice and Chipotle, as well as Peer Helping’s annual Shamrock Shake fundraiser held every March.

Instead, they had to sell Aramark milkshakes, causing them to lose money because students didn’t want to pay for them.

Students were once again left wondering why Aramark was chosen in the first place.