Gen Z students value speed, self-service, and digital-first experiences. Universities, facing shifting dining patterns and more students living off campus, are turning to micromarkets and grab‑and‑go concepts that remove bottlenecks and reduce labor demands. These “walk in, take what you want, walk out” environments mirror popular retail models like Amazon Go—but adapted for universities.

Sodexo, a major higher‑ed foodservice provider, is leading the charge with major frictionless retail expansions across U.S. campuses. By combining cashierless checkout with curated product assortments and a focus on local, healthy options, these stores offer a modern alternative to fast food lines or traditional convenience stores.

Designer (12)
Sodexo works with colleges and universities to implement unique dining and food purchasing experiences, and recently helped the University of Denver launch a "grocery and restaurant combo, or "groceraunt."
Designer (13)
Self-service coffee and chai stations are always popular, but Sodexo find that self-serve milkshake stations are also very popular, and see many purchases after hours.

Sodexo Opens 100 Automated Stores by 2026 

Sodexo has announced aggressive growth plans for its autonomous campus retail food formats. Sodexo plans to open 100 Food Hive locations by 2026, after having opened 30 new stores last year. These markets emphasize:

  • Cashless, touchless payment
  • Faster grab‑and‑go experiences
  • Support for local, minority‑ and women‑owned suppliers
  • Healthy selections built for students’ on‑the‑go lifestyles

Last year, schools like Moorehouse College, University of Illinois Chicago, Northern Arizona, Texas Christian and Hamline University opened Food Hive Markets with Sodexo.

What's Driving Universities Toward Frictionless Food Experiences?

1. Student Demand for Convenience and Speed

In-house research from campus dining providers shows students strongly prefer fast, self‑directed food options. Their schedules—packed with classes, jobs, athletics, and social life—make traditional dining formats less practical.

2. Rise of Off‑Campus Living and Declining Meal Plan Usage

With many students living off campus and fewer purchasing full meal plans, universities must offer accessible retail-style food options to recapture revenue lost to off-campus grocers and convenience stores.

3. Workforce and Operational Pressures

Labor shortages continue to challenge campus dining operations. Frictionless stores reduce reliance on staffing while maintaining or expanding access to food on campus.

4. Broader Retail Trends and Student Expectations

Students are accustomed to cashierless technologies from mainstream retail. Universities are embracing similar systems not only as a convenience upgrade but as a competitive differentiator in student experience.

These autonomous markets aren’t replacing dining halls but complementing them. Students often use them for late-night food access points, quick-stop markets between classes, or for food if they are far from a dining hall. With customizable product assortments, 24/7 access potential, and scalable technology, frictionless markets represent a new tier of campus dining—one that bridges hospitality, retail, and innovation.

If current trajectories continue, frictionless food experiences may soon be standard amenities on college campuses. With providers like Sodexo moving rapidly and technologies from AWS and others becoming more cost‑effective, students can expect more autonomous micro-markets, AI-driven inventory and personalization, integrated campus payment ecosystems, and even smart lockers for food pickup.

Universities adopting these models signal a shift toward convenience-first dining ecosystems designed for today’s—and tomorrow’s—student lifestyles. 

Designer (16)

Sodexo offers managed dining and vending with customization options for colleges and universities. Sodexo goes beyond the dining hall by offering mobile ordering, delivery, next-generation vending, retail options, and more. Additional benefits include flexible meal and snack options delivered via digital technology including mobile apps, contactless payment options, and autonomous delivery robots. With Sodexo, campus dining has never been easier.
See your E&I contract with Sodexo.

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E&I's Portfolio of Athletics Contracts

Did you know your institutions is a member of E&I Cooperative Services? E&I is a group purchase organization, solely focused on higher-ed. We've tapped into input from our collegiate institutions to build a comprehensive contract portfolio of athletics products and services. We've done the work, from vendor research, to RFP development, to negotiating with the most trusted athletic suppliers. View a few of our key athletics contracts.

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