Sodexo Campus, a major supplier to the college foodservice sector in North America, has announced the five campus dining trends including top flavors and dishes for 2025. According to industry experts, students will crave vibrant food experiences in the new year, from finger-licking fusion foods to over-the-top desserts and beyond.
“Bold! That’s the central theme shaping the developments in campus dining this coming year,” said Chef Jennifer DiFrancesco, the director of culinary innovation for Sodexo Campus. “To get noticed in 2025, desserts will have to dive into the deep end of indulgence and main dishes need to be infused with authentic, global flavors to satisfy students’ ever-expanding tastes. We also know students want more than just meals – they see dining as the gateway to richer social connections. We’re embracing these trends wholeheartedly to deliver unforgettable dining experiences that students are eager for in 2025.”
Sodexo Campus culinarians have revealed students will be craving these five trends in 2025:
Showstopper Desserts
In the new year, students will expect to see more delectably indulgent desserts that are primed for social media and made from better-for-you ingredients. An example of this includes Sodexo’s signature Freakshakes (pictured above), over-the-top milkshakes with extravagant toppings. First introduced as a pop-up event, Freakshakes have garnered so much student demand that they are now a staple on campuses across the USA.
Tacos Get Rebellious
Tacos made with multicultural ingredients and bold new flavor combinations will be on the rise in 2025. Serving as an ideal vehicle for fusion, students are drawn to unique combinations of authentic ingredients and surprising originality. From barbeque cornbread crumble and kung pao crispy chicken to green curry tofu bursting with spice, collegians will be expecting their tacos to deliver a world of flavor in the new year.
Chili Crunch Is Coming in Hot
Chili crunch — sometimes referred to as chili crisp — will be an obsession on campuses in 2025. This traditional Chinese chili oil combines sweet heat with a satisfying crunch that packs a punch. It will be popping up everywhere on campus in the new year, from shrimp and peanut noodle bowls to surprisingly zippy cacao ice cream.
Curry, Curry Everywhere
Curry will be a staple in campus dining halls in 2025. Belly-warming and robust, its diverse and bold flavor profile adds satisfying depth to dishes and will be on menus far and wide for collegians come the new semester. Students’ craving for originality and creative fusion is reflected in dishes like Thai red curry polenta and curry meatballs.
Functional Foods for Holistic Dining Experiences
Incredible food is the number one driver of overall campus engagement according to Sodexo’s 2024-2025 Student Lifestyle Survey. This offers an opportunity for campus dining to implement programs and concepts that promote community-centered experiences, all while continuing to focus on food as fuel for mental and physical health. In the new year, the holistic dining experience — one where dining is a catalyst for fostering community — will become of even greater importance on campuses.
About Sodexo North America
Sodexo North America is a division of the Sodexo Group, a global Fortune 500 company operating in 45 countries and a leading provider of sustainable food and integrated facilities management in all 50 US states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam. Across the United States the company employs over 100,000 people and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs by annually purchasing goods and services from a wide range of small to large businesses.
