What do students really think about new dining technologies, and what can operators learn from their feedback?
In Episode 3 of Outside the Box, host Ashley McNamara sits down with Sydney Kennedy, a senior at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and an on-campus marketing associate for Apex Order Pickup Solutions, to explore campus dining from the student perspective.
Drawing on her firsthand experience as a student, Sydney shares how campus dining has evolved during her time at UT and what she’s observed since the introduction of smart pickup lockers. From students who were initially skeptical to viral TikTok reviews and memorable first impressions, she offers a candid look at how convenience and technology are reshaping the student dining experience.
The conversation dives into the role dining plays in campus life, why frictionless pickup matters to today’s students, and what universities should consider when implementing new technology. Sydney also shares what she’d tell institutions considering smart locker solutions and how her campus experiences will shape her expectations as a consumer long after graduation.
Whether you’re a university dining leader, foodservice operator, or simply interested in understanding the next generation of consumers, this episode delivers valuable insights straight from the people these experiences are designed to serve.
Watch more episodes of Outside the Box for expert conversations on the future of foodservice and be sure to subscribe to the Apex Order Pickup Solutions YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.