The start of the second semester brought in some new snacks, drinks and a new policy to Freshëns on campus.
Students get a certain number of meal swipes each week that they can use at the Commons or at Freshëns. In the past, students could use a meal swipe at Freshëns during a meal period if they weren’t eating in the commons. This had to be temporarily stopped due to the large numbers of people who would come at one time; it would interfere with the social-distancing guidelines in place.
Aaron Fry is the manager of the Freshëns in Bob’s place and has been since it opened approximately two years ago. He talks about the new drinks which have been added since last semester.
“We never wanted to get rid of meal swipes,” said Fry. “That is good for my business. Last semester, we were pretty dead after the first month, and everyone used their Beaver Bucks because there’s no meal swipes.”
With the start of the new semester, students were made aware how they now have one meal swipe they can use a day at Freshëns, which is receivable during meal hours of the Commons. This swipe includes either a salad or rice bowl with a bottle of water or cup of soda.
“We’ll get feedback from students,” said Fry. “For example one of the students came up and thought it would be a good idea to get protein shakes for drinks. So we just added protein shakes, and the same with the Bang energy drinks. It used to be strictly just Pepsi and Coke.”
A big factor in how things get switched in and out is due in part to how well the items are selling among the students. If something isn’t selling well, Freshëns will switch said item out to find something popular and in demand by the students.
Some of the new updates to the Freshëns snack and drink menu:
- Drink coolers have come to include protein drinks and energy drinks
- Ben and Jerry’s ice cream pints have been switched with Blue Bunny ice cream sundaes
- Krispy Kreme donuts and mini pies have been added
- Hershey’s and Oreo ice cream cheesecake pieces have been added
- Pork rinds and other chips have been added
- More protein snacks (Bars, cookies, chips) have been added
While these snacks and drinks aren’t part of the official Freshëns menu, they do facilitate the purchasing and selling of said merchandise to students. These are available for students to purchase with their Beaver Bucks which they receive according to the number of meal swipes they get per week. Cash and cards are also accepted to pay for those items.
“It’s [meal swipe deal] been really nice,” said Emma Payne, a sophomore student at Bluffton, “I don’t have time for lunch on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and being able to use a meal swipe after my class is really nice.”
If students have any suggestions for new snacks or drinks, feel free to talk to Aaron Fry when you order at Freshëns or when you see him sitting in Bob’s place.
