COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI DINING
Ole Miss Dining Services has begun a search for future eateries to add to campus. In order to generate an engagement with students on social media and investigate on how familiar they are with certain new brands that have popped up in their search, Ole Miss Dining sent a poll to students over spring break allowing them to vote on one of three restaurants: Mooyah Burgers, Au Bon Pain and Steak n’ Shake.
The use of the poll and social media was a strategy for Ole Miss Dining Services to gather not only which foods students prefer but also what type of brands they recognize, according to Richard Bradley, marketing manager for Ole Miss Dining Services.
“We do a lot of surveys and look at traffic patterns. Then we use those to see what brands might fit for future dining possibilities,” he said.
The poll was open to students for one day, and Steak ’n Shake led with close to 80 percent of the vote. Au Bon Pain came in second in votes, and Mooyah Burgers was third.
Bradley, while excited about the huge generated response, did not expect so much steam to come out of it.
Despite all the hype, Ole Miss students should not expect three new restaurants to pop up on campus anytime soon.
Bradley explained that, “While there is a possible potential for these brands to come to campus, it really depends on whether the brands want to come to us.”
When considering new restaurant options, Dining Services are mostly looking ahead instead for the immediate future.
“When we explore new possible brands, we are looking at about three years in the future,” Bradley said.
The result of this strategy was a mix of confusion and excitement. Many students became convinced that Ole Miss was sure to have a new restaurant during the 2015-2016 school year.
“I really did think we were going to get a new restaurant,” said freshman Caroline Macek. “I can see how the polls would have been so misleading.”
“I was honestly disappointed whenever I found out,” freshman Alix Moody said. “I was kind of hoping for a new restaurant, particularly Steak ’n Shake.”
