Higher Education Dining Transformation

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Project Overview

Fork & Framework was engaged in a high-pressure institutional dining environment with a history of frequent turnover among food and beverage service providers. The mandate was to reset strategy, lead a complex RFP process, and establish a sustainable operating model.

The Challenge

  • Repeated vendor turnover and operational instability
  • Misaligned service models and stakeholder expectations
  • High scrutiny, complex governance, and long-term institutional risk

The Solution

Fork & Framework led an end-to-end strategic and operational transformation.

 

Framework Work

  • Comprehensive RFP strategy and execution
  • Strategic proposal development and differentiation
  • Financial modeling, risk assessment, and value engineering
  • Contract structuring, negotiation, and legal review

 

Experience Work

  • Executive-level stakeholder engagement
  • Service model redesign and guest experience transformation
  • Long-term sustainability and labor resilience planning

The Outcome

  • Awarded a 5-year, $275M operating contract
  • Achieved $40M in projected ROI through operational efficiencies
  • Shifted relationship from vendor to trusted advisor
  • Established a future-forward campus dining program aligned with institutional goals and long-term value creation

feedback

“Fork & Framework brought clarity to every part of our operation. The systems we implemented immediately improved consistency and gave our team confidence.”

Richard Davidson
Owner | Artisanal Bakery

Curious how this approach could work for your operation?

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