Throughout the academic year, the University of Virginia hosts its on-campus Cville Market where students can shop from a selection of local vendors. By hosting this small-scale farmer’s market, students are able to engage with local merchants and gain an understanding about the food system.
Last year, the Cville Market welcomed 15 vendors and generated thousands of transactions, and with recent momentum driven by the addition of mobile ordering, the market team is optimistic about increasing these numbers.
Utilizing existing technology in new ways
Students were already using the Grubhub app for mobile ordering on campus, so it was simple for the university’s dining services, UVA Dine, to extend the technology to the market.
This integration streamlined the process for students, vendors, and UVA Dine. A major benefit of integrating the technology is that students now have the ability to purchase items using their meal plan’s Flex Dollars directly through the Grubhub app, and no longer have to wait in line at the market.
“A major driver for students to participate is the ability to purchase items using their meal plan’s Flex Dollars and the Grubhub integration makes it possible. Vendors at the market facilitate 100% of the transactions through the Grubhub app. We reach out to vendors two weeks prior to the market to request their intended menu and prices, and we build out an online shop for each seller.”
-Allie Berry, Sustainability Manager for UVA Dine
Increasing satisfaction and streamlining operations
Students now complete their purchases on the Grubhub app, show their receipt at the vendor’s tent, and pick up their order. In the past, vendors used an iPad at checkout to record purchases and then they would submit the Flex Dollars transactions to UVA Dine after the market had closed. Now the checkout process is instantaneous, and vendors receive their funds quickly and efficiently. Vendors and students alike have shared their satisfaction with the updates to the market.
UVA also shares insights with vendors including what products were most popular to help inform inventory. Plus, the app allows vendors to limit order quantities during certain times, like during peak lunch hour.
Introducing innovative technology to a farmer’s market helps attract young students to shop and eat locally. The Cville Market lets UVA students experience this without leaving campus, a benefit for students who may not have transportation to other markets around the city.
Get started with Grubhub today
If you’re a campus considering a similar program, try finding a few key vendors to allow the market to gain a following prior to launch day. Looking to learn more? Contact the Grubhub team to get more information about bringing Grubhub to your campus today.
