Global Village Market Wins ‘Best in Business’ Award
National college food service organization recognizes RIT for design innovation
International foods and fair-trade goods from around the world have found a home-away-from-home in Global Village at RIT. One of its anchor stores, The Market, won a 2011 Best in Business New Store Design Award from the National Association of College and University Food Services organization.
Representatives from Brigham Young University will be on campus April 25 to record a video-tour of The Market site and its staff. This will be shown during the awards ceremony at the National Association of College and University Food Services organization annual conference in July.
“This wonderful, national award from the leading food service association is independent validation of the creative and unique service delivery model created by RIT’s Dining Service leadership and employees,” says James Watters, senior vice president of RIT’s Finance and Administration division. “This total team effort is nothing short of best-in-class. We are all extremely proud of their accomplishment.”
Global Village, the newest commercial, residential and dining complex at RIT, opened in 2010. Each of the retail, dining, residential and office facilities represents different regions from around the world and is a model of the university’s global focus.
“The Market is modeled after outdoor marketplaces found around the world,” says Melissa Kara, assistant manager of The Market. “It has become an appealing location for our international campus members to purchase products from home, as well as allows everyone to try a variety of unique foods they can’t get anywhere else on campus.” Kara will accept the award at the conference and participate in a panel discussion about RIT’s winning design.
The National Association of College and University Food Services is comprised of campus dining and retail organizations. In its 10 years of Best in Business competitions, winners from U.S. colleges and universities have been judged on product mix, marketing, design and layout of facilities and new design ideas.