ID239 The Keele Meal Deal

The Idea

There is a cost of living crisis. Those who live on campus are students, a group traditionally identified as lacking funds and regular income. Those who live beyond the campus do so in an area of industrial decline and considerable poverty relative to other cities and regions. 

Options for affordable eating and drinking on campus are few for students; it would be interesting to see data on sales and footfall at Keele catering outlets as from personal observation these places rarely seem to be heaving. Is it possible that students can only afford to dunk dirtily or sit at the kitchen table once a week or once a month. This must restrict income coming into the university one would have thought. Greggs is the cheap option, but it knows it is the only game in town and can increase its prices without fearing the competition should it wish or need to. As for the Co-op I like to go in there and play ‘what can we get for under a pound’ when it is raining and there are no sheltered walkways to the buildings I really want to go to; this occupies time rather than fills tummies. 

I propose the introduction of the mix and match ‘Keele Meal Deal’; 

• 50p for a main 
• 50p for chips/rice/pasta 
• 50p for drink 
• 50p for sweet treat 

This would be a pile-them-high, sell-them-low option. The main would be a vat of something like a curry, a stew, or casserole. The ingredients of this would be, along with the chips, rice and pasta, purchased by Keele at high volume, low cost. The food would be basic and choice would be minimal; that is the trade-off. 

When I did pub quizzes in my wild wanton youth they often used to serve stew/curry and chips at half time for a minimal entry fee. Students flocked in, locals flowed in. I wager the Keele Meal Deal could keep students on campus, even coming onto campus when they don’t need to(!). 

The second aspect of this idea is serving the Keele Meal Deal at Keele in Town. Helping the local community in a direct tangible manner, the fact that it is the same deal as students means it isn’t charity either and gets out the message that this is what is available on the hill, combating HE’s image as being pricey and abstract. Of course, while local families are in Keele in Town they are an audience!

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

Times are hard and this would show that a university can have a tangible answer to society’s problems, not just theories about them. Students are struggling, local people are struggling; they are also people we want to keep engaging with. 

It could be argued that the current offering in Town alienates more than it engages. £11.50 for a sandwich is steep. Nothing tells people that Keele is not a place for the ‘likes of us’ more than a £7 charred red pepper and houmous bagel. Keele might be ‘in Town’, but it is unclear which town we think it is in. 

How We Would Implement This Idea

Of course, the costings might be an issue here, but there is a principle here that needs addressing; how the university can help the local community and its own community here on campus. I propose we try it out on an ad hoc fashion and see how it lands. Have it for just one day a week at first. Friday is Keele Meal Day! Or last week of the month as we approach pay day. See if it is popular, see if it is costly, see if it returns a profit. Review, refashion and relaunch in a more systematic way when we know what works. 

What Success Would Look Like

A well-fed student body at a well-attended university campus, a well-fed local population identifying with a well-regarded university.