The Grid at Nicholls, the new fresh market, opened Tuesday in the Nicholls Student Union and is sponsored and supported by the worldwide company, Sodexo.

Auxiliary Services Executive Director Brenda Haskins-Dial said that Sodexo proposed the plan to build The Grid at Nicholls where the game room had been, and the school agreed because the game room was not bringing in any money.

“I think that the student Union is the most convenient place to put something like this,” Haskins-Dial said. “We had been trying to think of something to replace the game room, but still be fitting for a student union. Because Sodexo paid for the construction, Nicholls was very happy to accept the offer.”

The Grid cost no money to Nicholls to build.

The Grid is not part of the budget yet, but it will become a part in the future. The size of the portion of the budget needed will depend on how successful or unsuccessful The Grid is. The Grid is expected to take sales from other places in the union, and even the Galliano Dining Hall.

In The Grid, Nicholls has partnered with Sodexo in selling everything from fresh hot coffee to frozen lunch plates.

“There are fresh pre-made food, candy, snacks and frozen or refrigerated foods. There is also a half of a wall completely reserved for drinks,” Haskins-Dial said. “There is plenty of selection.”
Sodexo General Manager Russell Barrios said, “I was complicit in the process of constructing The Grid.”

Barrios fought for the right half of The Grid to be completely open to students as a charging station. The charging area consists of bar-style tables and chairs that are all surrounding 30 electrical outlets, two of which are handicap accessible.

“We definitely addressed every concern from student organizations,” Barrios said. He had a big part in the design and function of The Grid. Barrios also decided the decoration, design and what is sold.

The Grid at Nicholls is a pilot program, and Sodexo hopes to expand to other schools, colleges and hospitals. With the new market opening and Nicholls students going in, the students are taking part in a trial for Sodexo.

Barrios said that Sodexo is using Nicholls as a test area for The Grid. The Grid at Nicholls is the first to be opened in North America.

“The second Grid market is opening in Ohio, shortly after Thanksgiving this year,” Barrios said.

Hopefully, Nicholls will set a good example and Sodexo can expand and make The Grid a popular market for colleges and universities all around North America. Sodexo plans for this market to be convenient and modern enough for students to be attracted to.

Nicholls Allied Health sophomores, Olivia Richardel and Morgan Anderson, agree that The Grid looks really nice and appealing to students.

“I can’t wait to be able to go in and see what they have,” Richardel said. “I think it’s a much better idea than the game room. The charging station will definitely be more useful.”

Anderson said, “I’m glad Nicholls is expanding and giving students something that they will actually use.”

Accounting sophomore, Brittany Johnson, also said, “It actually looks a lot better than I thought it would. I think students will like this a lot, use the charging stations and take advantage of having a market in the Union.”

Sodexo is the world’s largest Quality of Life Services Company. It joins in partnerships with different types of businesses around the world, especially schools and colleges or universities. Nicholls has been in a partnership with Sodexo for the Vernon F. Galliano Dining Hall and Jazzman’s Café.