Arizona State University expands Aramark partnership with 15-year campus-wide hospitality deal

ASU adds athletics, vending, and workforce development to long-standing Aramark agreement covering dining and events.

Photo credit: Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) has signed a new 15-year agreement with Aramark to expand the scope of its hospitality services across all campuses.

The deal builds on an 18-year relationship and brings additional services into the partnership, including sports concessions, vending, and early-career workforce development.

ASU is one of the largest public research institutions in the United States, with more than 150,000 students. Aramark is a global food and facilities services provider operating in 16 countries. The expanded agreement connects student life, campus dining, athletics, and community events under one contract.

Marc Bruno, Chief Operating Officer of Aramark U.S. Food and Facilities, says, “Aramark is looking forward to continuing its journey with ASU, fostering a vibrant campus environment that supports the university's vision and enhances the overall experience for students, faculty, and the community.”

Dining, catering, and training services to expand

Aramark will continue to manage ASU’s dining halls and introduce new concepts, including the transformation of Pitchforks dining hall into Pitchforks Global Residential Restaurant. Additional updates are planned for dining facilities at the Downtown, Polytechnic, and West Valley campuses.

The company will also provide catering for ASU’s members-only University Club through a partnership with local firm Atlasta. ASU will serve as a training site for Aramark’s Accelerate to Leadership (A2L) program and will collaborate with ASU’s Luminosity Lab to explore global business solutions.

Through its Sports + Entertainment division, Aramark will now manage food and beverage operations at Sun Devil Athletics venues. Planned upgrades include new concession concepts, expanded menu variety, and service enhancements informed by data analytics. The company serves over 60 stadiums and arenas across North America and will add ASU to its Big 12 Conference portfolio.

Micro-markets and vending to expand on campus

The agreement includes new retail and vending services, with technology-driven micro-markets and expanded offerings in convenience food. Aramark will introduce vending upgrades across ASU’s campuses, with a focus on variety, availability, and speed of service.

Rudy Bellavia, Vice President of University Business Services and Chief Procurement Officer at ASU, says, “We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Aramark to provide innovative services and sustainable offerings to our Sun Devil community.”