Metz Culinary Management is now offering onsite, fresh sushi rolling for its college and university dining clients. In response to current trends in dining in the higher education marketplace, Metz is pleased to bring this program enhancement to their grab-and-go concept, Chef Fresh™.
“By working with our purchasing team, we can now provide our teams and partners with a more cost-efficient solution to offering sushi daily,” stated Ed Knake, Division Executive Chef, Higher Education / Independent Schools for Metz. “This new enhancement also allows us to use fresh ingredients and provide our guests with healthy and delicious sushi rolls without depending on third-party vendors.”
Metz’s college and university dining partners simply order white rice sheets from RiceWrap Foods, fill them with fresh vegetables or sashimi, then roll and slice them using the RiceWrap rolling machine. This process delivers a number of benefits, including:
- Increased variety of fresh food options, including vegetarian, vegan and seafood offerings
- Lower cost compared to purchasing third-party prepared sushi rolls
- Higher profit margin for the dining institution
- Support for staff shortages by simplifying preparation
The finished product price point lands between $6.99 to $8.99, significantly lower than that of purchasing sushi rolls from a third party. Currently, Metz is working with four higher education partners, with a goal of bringing 10 to 15 colleges and universities on board by spring 2023.
The sushi rolling program has proven to be quite popular with guests.
“We have been averaging about 15 to 20 rolls a day,” states Jason W. Lutton, General Manager of Food & Beverage at Daytona State College. “It has been very well received by all including our clients or partners.”
“It is super easy. We prep 180 servings and sell out before 1:00 p.m. and usually scramble to make extra,” said Josh Christopher, General Manager at King University Dining Services. “One student said the sushi is why they purchased a commuter (dining) plan.”
Albion College in Albion, Michigan and Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana are also participating in the sushi rolling program.