No-bid contract to bring widespread changes to CSUB food service

Longtime food-service workers at Cal State Bakersfield say they're being unfairly displaced by the university's new, no-bid contract with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

A small group of employees of Philadelphia-based Aramark complained at Tuesday's meeting of the Kern County Board of Education that as many as 15 positions are being eliminated under the switch to KCSOS Food & Nutrition Services.

The change is planned to bring widespread changes to CSUB food service, ranging from the kind of food available at student dorms to menu revisions at every cafe and cafeteria on campus.

A researcher at the union representing Aramark's workforce at the university said employees who have worked at CSUB for as many as four decades were told they were unqualified for a new, full-time position with KCSOS. She said some of those workers had to accept a part-time job with the agency that came with a significant pay cut.

A CSUB representative emphasized the university never employed the workers and that the dispute is between Aramark, its workers and KCSOS.

She said CSUB did work with KCSOS to offer the former Aramark employees job opportunities in April and May. The assistance involved a series of meetings, application sessions and dedicated computer labs.

The person who negotiated the new contract with KCSOS, university Chief Budget Officer Kristen Watson, noted she spoke with a variety of institutional food-service providers before deciding to award the contract to a longstanding local partner.

There was no need for competitive bidding, Watson said by email Friday, because the contract presents no financial risk to the university and is considered to be a "revenue-generating" agreement exempt from formal bidding processes.

Aramark did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

A spokesman for KCSOS, which works with local kindergarten-though-12th-grade schools, said the agency has long partnered with CSUB. He said the university approached the superintendent of schools last year about the possibility of supporting campus dining services.

Spokesman Rob Meszaros said KCSOS recognizes such transitions affect real people and that it appreciates the years of service many Aramark employees have provided at CSUB. He said the agency intends to recruit and hire food-service workers through its established merit system.

"All positions are publicly posted and available to qualified applicants," he wrote, adding that KCSOS expects to fill about 18 positions to support the CSUB contract.

The situation began in April 2025 when Aramark, which has held CSUB's food-service contract for nearly 10 years, said it wanted out of its agreement early. It agreed to stay on under the condition that the university cover its financial losses, which CSUB agreed to do while it worked to find a new vendor.

CSUB ultimately proposed what Meszaros called a "partnership between two public educational institutions rather than a traditional vendor-client relationship."

"The focus of the agreement is to provide dining services that support students living on campus as well as the broader university community," he said by email.

Money was recently moved into the agency's Cafeteria Enterprise Fund, he noted, but that would have happened regardless of the CSUB project. He said the new contract was unrelated to the allocation.

Meszaros said the partnership is not expected to be a significant revenue-generator, as associated profit margins will be small but sustainable.

Part of the transition to the new contract is planned to begin next week, while other aspects of the agreement will be carried out through summer.

Watson said the new agreement is planned to result in superior meal quality, local sourcing and the university's close and lasting partnership with KCSOS. She noted the university will not be obligated to compensate the agency for any financial losses resulting from the arrangement.

Among the changes will be the replacement of an existing Starbucks on the campus with a new offering called Cafecito & Bakery. Other differences will be a Mexican grill with Italian and other globally inspired dishes at Runner Café.

Also, there will be a "fresh market concept" in which customers will pay by the ounce for food; a "World in a Bowl" option with customizable grain, protein and vegetable bowls; and a new dining component at CSUB's residential complex.

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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:09 AM.