As of the 2025-2026 school year, UNIS has switched its food vendor from Flik to Elior. According to the UNIS website, Elior offers “nourishing, delicious, and seasonal meals.” However, some members of the school community have found the food more expensive than Flik, and many students are unwilling to pay the new prices–especially when the quality can feel hit-or-miss with noticeable financial implications.
During an interview, Paco, our Tut House Principal, stated that in the summer of 2025, UNIS switched from Flik to Elior because the school’s 15-year contract with Flik had ended. Over the summer, UNIS held a public conference during which other catering companies presented their services. Following the conference, a committee of students, parents, and members of the staff association unanimously chose Elior based on its showcased menus and food quality. Paco described the quality as “undeniably better.”
While food prices were raised slightly to compensate for Elior’s healthier offerings, Paco believes that the prices have remained fairly reasonable compared to Flik. He also noted that students are now eating a wider variety of food–as recorded in a student survey–which makes the rise in price worth it, in his view.
Currently, the Elior meal plan costs parents $1,800, the same as last year, according to CFO Mr. Feeney. In contrast, the price of individual cafeteria items has increased noticeably. . For example, all drinks were previously priced at $3.50 now cost more, with a Snapple alone being $4.25. A piece of bacon is now $1, and cookies that used to range from $3.25 to $3.50 are now priced at $4.50. Most other cafeteria items increased by at least a dollar.
When students were asked, many stated that they felt the food was overpriced and not worth the cost. The largely unjustifiable prices have discouraged many students from buying cafeteria food–especially those without a meal plan who occasionally buy food.
To solve this issue, Mr. Feeney stated that concerns about drink prices are already being addressed and any other concerns will be reviewed if enough people raise complaints. He also emphasized that there was no financial motive behind leaving Flik; the decision was solely on food quality. Feeney also mentioned that entrée prices have remained consistent with those under FLIK.
One of the reasons UNIS chose Elior was its fresh and nutritious options. But are students actually eating healthier? Of the students surveyed, several reported that while the food, such as the pizza, pasta, and salad, feels fresher than it did under Flik, they feel as though they are eating less healthy overall. Many admitted that they gravitate towards the chicken tenders and fries rather than the more nutritious options that Elior has to offer. Although Flik also served French fries, they weren’t served daily.
Additionally, many students expressed that they enjoyed Flik’s salad and sandwich bar, which had been their go-to meal option. Currently, many report that they only eat the fries because they believe it is the best option available. Others noted that they only ate the chicken tenders simply because they are offered so frequently, adding that they would opt for healthier foods if those options were more prominent.
Among the students surveyed, a majority said that they preferred Flik because of what they perceived as better food–especially the salad and sandwich bar, as well as the cookies. Many also mentioned that Flik’s pricing felt more reasonable for the quality offered. For instance, they emphasized that the ingredient options in the sandwich bar felt superior to those in the current sandwich bar, and that the flavor of the sandwich tasted better overall. Another aspect that students appreciated was the increased number of options available in the old salad and sandwich bars, as well as the daily rotation of menu items.
While many students favor Flik, others prefer Elior and enjoy the current cafeteria offerings. They find the ingredients in the salads, sandwiches, fresher and of higher quality. Some even said that the prepared items, such as the pasta and pizza, taste noticeably better. For them, the improved quality outweighs the rise in prices. Other students prefer Elior because they appreciate the predictability of the menu and prefer knowing what is going to be served each day.
Overall, the switch from Flik to Elior has received some mixed reactions, with some disapproving of the change and questioning if it was worth it. However, there remains a strong possibility that the students may grow to prefer–and even enjoy–Elior in the long run.
