Last year, changes to the food at the University of New Haven (UNH) did not go unnoticed. Students benefited from more options when the U-Cook station and Simple Zone allergy station were added to the Marketplace.

However, Chargers can look forward to more changes in their food options during the Fall Semester.

Juan Sebastian Greene Dominguez, the general manager of Sodexo at UNH, said upcoming changes should improve students’ dining experience.

“Every day is a new opportunity for us to make it better,” Dominguez said, “The idea is [that we are] constantly making changes.”

In the next month, Chargers will see the introduction of boba milk tea at Bergami Hall, a smoothie machine, and the opening of the 24/7 vending machine room in Sept. and Oct.

Sodexo plans to integrate boba milk tea at other locations besides Bergami, but that process may take a month to complete. Dominguez explained that because the drink is popular, “finding the location, space, [and] ingredients” takes time.

Extra consideration is going into the process of bringing boba milk tea to UNH because of its possible issues with increased student traffic. Distributing locations to buy boba across campus will spread out customers. Dominguez said it would take a month before the tapioca-filled drink becomes available on campus. In the process of altering UNH’s dining options, Dominguez said he aims to optimize student satisfaction. In his words, “The goal is for students to find the experience of eating on campus fun.”

Sodexo plans to install a milkshake & smoothie machine at the C-store. Installation of the machine is planned for no later than Oct. 1. The smoothie machine is made by the company f’real and facilities will have to install a water line and drain so the smoothie machine can function.

“I know during the beginning of the year they are busy,” Dominguez said. “So [the smoothie machine] is a bit lower priority.”

While students wait for these popular drinks to become more widely available for students on campus, the 24/7 store is scheduled to open soon. Students can expect a range of fresh food, with machines such as a Starbucks Serenade Machine, Just Baked, White Castle and a ViaTouch Intelishelf Cognitive Kinetic Interactions (VICKI) vending machine within 24/7.

After 24/7 opens, students may enjoy savory, sweet, and/or caffeinated nourishment outside of the dining halls’ hours. Fresh food, including wraps, salads, fruit cups, mac-and-cheese and sandwiches, will be available.

“VICKI has all fresh items […] like Jazzmans’ cooler, but in a vending machine,” said Dominguez. A second VICKI machine at One Care Lane is earning popularity, leading to greater anticipation for the success of 24/7.

In addition, the Starbucks Serenade Machine offers various drink options and sizes, including hot or iced coffee, hot chocolate, and chai lattes when fully stocked.

Dominguez said their team is “just waiting for student affairs to tell us how we’re going to do that big opening.”