PBFA and Sodexo Campus Launch Earth Week Plant-Based Brand Activation Across U.S. Colleges

Date postedMay 1, 2025
PBFA News,

Written by: Hannah Lopez

A large, historic brick university building with a central tower and clock dominates the scene. A lone person walks on a path, surrounded by trees with autumn leaves.


In celebration of Earth Week, the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) hosted a first-of-its-kind partnership with Sodexo Campus, a nationwide Student Appreciation Event Series spotlighting plant-based food brands across eight university campuses. Throughout the week of April 17–22, 2025, select brands sampled plant-based foods on campuses to boost awareness, access, and excitement around plant-based dining options for students and foodservice operators.

As part of this collaboration, students enjoyed delicious samplings featuring some of the top innovators in the plant-based space: PBFA members Impossible Foods and Violife, as well as MorningStar Farms, Gardein, and JUST Egg. Each brand was featured in Sodexo-curated recipes designed to lean into bold flavor, convenience, and social shareability – offering students the opportunity to experience the variety and delicious potential of plant-based foods. The event was a huge success and fed over 1,500 students across eight college campuses.

Digital display advertising plant-based tacos with a foliage background and a blue section showing two tacos on a plate.People in line at a food counter selecting small plates of food in a brightly lit cafeteria or buffet setting.Two students smiling and holding paper plates with small food samples in front of a dining service station. Behind the green-clothed table, two university dining staff members smile at the camera. Informational posters about local producers and dining metrics hang on the wall behind them.Two women standing side-by-side, smiling and holding small paper plates with plant-based chicken nuggets. They are standing next to a large vertical banner that reads "MorningStar Farms: Impact to Our Planet" featuring a picture of crispy chick'n tenders.

Plant-based foods are central to healthy and nutritious diets and can help lower the environmental footprint related to food choices. Sodexo Campus, a leader in sustainability and innovation in foodservice, has made a public global commitment to be 33% plant based by the end of 2025.

“This collaboration between PBFA and Sodexo Campus is a meaningful step forward in our commitment to making plant-based foods a core part of the dining experience,” said Jennifer DiFrancesco, Sodexo director of culinary innovation. “By blending innovative brands, bold flavors, and chef-driven recipes to the forefront, we’re not just showcasing plant-based options—we’re reinforcing their place as a delicious and accessible choice for all students. Our goal is to continue expanding plant-forward menus that meet the evolving tastes and values of our campus communities, ensuring that sustainability and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we serve.”

This activation was part of a larger collaboration between PBFA and Sodexo Campus to increase awareness and interest in flavorful, sustainable plant-based options at colleges and universities across the U.S. Through its Foodservice Program, PBFA partners with foodservice management companies to:

  • Support product assortment expansion by connecting operators with trusted plant-based suppliers and emerging brands.
  • Develop and promote chef-approved, student-loved recipes that work within dining hall operational needs.
  • Drive awareness through education, sampling, and storytelling opportunities that resonate with consumers.

A young man wearing a black puffer jacket and headphones around his neck smiles while holding a small paper plate. He is using a toothpick to pick up a food sample. He stands in front of a large MorningStar Farms promotional banner about the positive environmental impact of plant-based food.A close-up shot of a smiling man with glasses and a goatee, wearing a textured brown fleece jacket. He holds a red disposable coffee cup in one hand and a paper plate with a plant-based nugget and dipping sauce in the other, inside a busy campus dining hall.

“PBFA is thrilled to work with Sodexo to meet students where they are—hungry for great food that also aligns with their values,” said Hannah Lopez, PBFA’s head of marketplace development. “By making plant-based foods more visible, accessible, and delicious, we’re not only supporting sustainability but also shaping the future of food on campus.”

This celebration of food, sustainability, and student community is a powerful example of what’s possible when industry leaders come together to reimagine the dining experience.

To learn more about the Plant Based Foods Association’s foodservice partnerships, visit our website.

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