Make-your-own burrito bowls, customizable smoothies, limited-time offers like an edamame coconut shrimp bowl and trendy foods like dot cakes—these are just a few of the offerings University of Pittsburgh students can find through their campus dining program, Pitt Eats. The program serves students so well that it recently was named Account of the Year by Chartwells Higher Education’s 2026 Be A Star Awards.
The Be A Star Awards celebrate Chartwells Higher Education associates and teams who deliver exceptional experiences, support their communities and embody the company’s values in action. Pitt Eats earned the top account honor for demonstrating what is possible when operational excellence and strong client collaboration come together for the campus culture and community.
“The Pitt Eats team has consistently invested in innovation, strengthened its partnership with the University, and remained focused on enhancing student experience,” said John Longo, Pitt Eats vice president of operations. “Those years of dedication, collaboration and continuous improvement laid the foundation for a breakthrough year, where strategic investments and operational excellence came together to elevate the student experience and deepen the client partnership.”
Increased Meal Plan Participation and Student Satisfaction
Building on its six-year partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, the Pitt Eats team delivered results that included increased meal plan participation, enhanced student satisfaction and nationally recognized dining programs. The team also advanced innovative dining concepts, major campus investments, sustainability initiatives and industry-leading partnerships that elevated the student experience.
“At the University of Pittsburgh, we look for partners who understand that dining is not just a service, but an integral part of the student experience and campus community,” said Matthew Sterne, University of Pittsburgh’s vice chancellor for business services. “Chartwells has consistently demonstrated that understanding. They are forward-thinking, attentive to the evolving needs of our campus and our students, and unafraid to embrace innovation—whether through new technology or bold, creative dining concepts.”
The Account of the Year honor builds on Pitt Eats’ continued national recognition from the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS). In 2026, Pitt Eats was honored with the Loyal E. Horton Grand Prize for Retail Sales: Multiple Concepts of the Year for the new Recreation and Wellness Center. Additional 2026 medals were awarded for the Rec Center, Pitt Catering Co. and waste reduction. Pitt Eats won the NACUFS 2025 Grand Prize for Residential Dining Facility of the Year for The Eatery—marking two consecutive years among the country’s top campus dining programs.
“I have worked closely with the Chartwells team throughout our partnership, and what stands out most is their responsiveness to student feedback,” said Rose Basso, University of Pittsburgh director of dining services. “Whenever challenges have arisen, the Chartwells team has approached them by bringing solutions, and the understanding that the students are the reason we’re all here. Treating Pitt’s goals as their own is what makes them stand out as true partners.”
Pitt Eats will be recognized this fall at the Compass Night of Stars in Orlando, Fla., where Chartwells Higher Education and Compass Group will honor its 2026 Be A Star winners for their contributions to students, clients, colleagues and campuses nationwide.
Chartwells provides contract foodservice management at more than 320 colleges and universities across the United States.
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