The happiest place on Earth comes to U of M

Once a week, students can expect to enter a whole new world when they step into the Fresh Food Company.

Tuesday, Fresh Food held a Disney Day that included balloons, Mickey Mouse hats and a large Disney cake.

Similar theme days, where everything from the decorations to the staff's costumes and the food itself revolve around the theme, will be implemented at Fresh Food throughout the semester.

"We're trying to make this the next cool place to be," said Sean Armstrong, marketing manager for the company. "We want to try and regulate traffic on campus.  Since the building of the University Center, the majority of students go there for food.  We want to change that," Armstrong said.

The marketing idea began when Fresh Food decided to hold a recurring event entitled "Cruising the World" last year, where they served exotic foods from different locales around the world.  

The idea was so popular with students, Armstrong said, that the Fresh Food Company created a new option for their meals called the World Market where students can enjoy exotic foods on a regular basis.

With the success of Cruising the World, the dining area's marketing team decided to run with the idea and created the theme days to attract more students.  

Themes range from Tuesday's Disney Day to smaller days such as Birthday Day, where the birthdays of everyone in a particular month are celebrated.

Dishwashers, cooks and cashiers have a say in the themes, along with the marketing team.

"We want these days to be fun, but also make sense operationally as we have to be able to cook food that matches with the theme," said Kendall Hodges, marketing assistant.

Ruby Boatley, a cashier for Fresh Food, sported a princess tiara as she greeted students Tuesday.

"It helps to create excitement," said Boatley.  "Wearing the costumes also helps to break the monotony of wearing our uniform."

Along with the staff, Hodge said the students seem to be responding positively to the marketing plan.

"I go to Fresh Food because it's less crowded than the UC and this helps the experience to not be boring," said Devon Haines, senior film major.