Technology / 03.16.22
Aramark Expands Locker System in Pittsburgh
Access Staff
VenuesNow (03/09/22) Muret, Don
Pittsburgh's PPG Paints Arena is the site of Aramark's mobile locker delivery system expansion of food and drink to the ordering stable. This effort joins a pilot program in retail, which Aramark also operates at the venue as part of a partnership between the concessionaire, the Pittsburgh Penguins and locker supplier Cargill. "We wanted to create a fully mobile, touch-free, locker-driven service," said Aramark Sports and Entertainment's Alicia Woznicki. The Ford Food Garage-branded lockers are located by Section 115 on the main concourse next to the Ford Lounge, a public bar open to all fans that opened last April. Fans can order food and drink from their seats through the Penguins' mobile app; they receive a text when their order is ready for pickup at the lockers, and respond with a text to open the units when they arrive. PPG Paints Arena is at least the third Aramark-contracted venue to use locker delivery systems as a fan convenience. The lockers stand out from other big league arenas and concessionaires using Amazon Just Walk Out and Zippin solutions in a frictionless environment, although industry consultants question the efficacy of the food locker systems by comparison. Aramark officials acknowledge the low adoption rate with mobile ordering, and Woznicki cites factors like "shoe-horning" mobile into locations that are not designed for the format, as well as the time required to modify fan behavior.
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Tags: Concessions , News , Contactless