OPERATIONS
THE DINING TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY IN SALT LAKE CITY RECENTLY TEAMED UP WITH RAMEN MONSTER, A SOUTH KOREA-BORN RAMEN ROBOT MAKER, TO BRING THE CONCEPT'S AUTOMATED RAMEN MACHINES, BUILT TO BRING "AFFORDABLE AND CHEERFUL FIVE-MINUTE FLAVOR" TO CAMPUS. STUDENTS ASK, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH DINING UNLEASHES RAMEN MONSTER AUTOMATED CONCEPT
broth base and spicy Buldak Creamy Carbonara, with a wide selection of toppings. Vegetarian options and a va- riety of spice levels are all customizable within the bowl. It's an interactive ex- perience, as students can completely customize and visualize their ramen bowl. It works by placing the bowl in the monster, adding seasonings to the top, selecting your favorite ramen, pressing start and then it's ramen time after you stir it up. We've seen quite a few food-cen- tric robots in the college and universi- ty space, from food delivery robots to 24-hour automat machines to smooth- ie-making robots and more. The new technology is often aimed at boosting convenience for tech-loving college students, and in this case, being able to offer a global dish that's in high de- mand. And the overarching goal behind the partnership is the further enhance the dining experience by offering in- novative and diverse options, part of Chartwells Higher Education's larger mission. “We are always looking for innova- tive ways to enhance the dining experi- ence for our students, and this addition is a testament to that commitment." said Chuck Weaver, director of din- ing services at University of Utah, in a statement. "Adding Ramen Monster to our dining options is a significant step in our commitment to providing di- verse and high-quality food choices on campus."
ferent retail locations across campus. Ramen Monster is an automated in- stant ramen concept that was founded in South Korea in the late 2000s, with Ramen Monster, LLC, founded in Utah this year. Touting this route to ramen, Ramen Monster's website describes the experience as "affordable and cheerful five-minute flavor." "Inspired by South Korea’s popular instant ramen culture, we aim to share a piece of Korean culinary tradition with our customers. At Ramen Monster, we believe in providing high-quality, af- fordable dining options that fit busy lifestyles," according to the website. The Ramen Monster machines, which look more like a futuristic per- sonal coffee maker, offer an array of different types of ramen, including Shin Ramyun Black, a meaty beef bone
T he Chartwells Higher Education dining team at the University of Utah is responding to student demand for more Asian fare in the menu mix. In a student sur- vey last year, noticing especially high demand for Asian cuisine, the dining team decided to launch an automated ramen concept. The decision to bring the concept to campus was also due in part to the rise in international stu- dents and the steady demand from all college students for Asian fare across the nation, according to a statement. So, at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester, the dining team installed 12 Ramen Monster machines at five dif- BY REYNA ESTRADA
FSD QUARTERLY
Q4 2024
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORRISON HEALTHCARE
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