Elevating Employee Dining at CAE USA’s Tampa HQ

Overview

CAE delivers cutting-edge training, simulation and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defense forces for the critical missions ahead. CAE USA is part of CAE's Defense and Security business unit serving the United States and allied nations.

When CAE decided to build a new location in Tampa, Florida in early 2024, they turned to Sodexo as a trusted partner to elevate the facility’s dining experience and support its operational goals. With approximately 700 employees, and growing, CAE faced various challenges to meet the expectations of employees and customers. The facility operates 24/7 to accommodate various shifts and training schedules creating unique challenges for employee food services and amenities.

When CAE built its new Tampa, Florida location in Spring 2024, it faced several challenges. 

The Challenges

  • Limited dining options:

    Previous menus lacked fresh, healthy choices and variety.

  • 24/7 operations:

    As a round-the-clock facility, employees working outside standard café hours had few quality food options beyond vending machines.

  • Employee satisfaction concerns:

    CAE faced the challenge of improving workplace culture and retention through better amenities, recognizing that subpar dining options are a factor in overall employee satisfaction.

  • Limited catering capabilities:

    The previous setup had minimal catering options for visiting executives and clients.

  • Aggressive timeline:

    The project needed to be completed within just six weeks to align with the facility’s opening.

The Solutions

Sodexo implemented Kitchen Works branded food services with a comprehensive redesign of the dining experience. The café underwent a complete 180-degree transformation with Sodexo integrated into the planning phase of the new building. 

Physical Space Transformation: 

  • Modern, clean design with abundant natural light
  • Strategic layout, featuring distinct service areas like Grab-and-Go
  • Communal dining spaces designed to foster collaboration and networking 

The Results

  • High participation rate

    63% café participation rate (vs. 16%-36% participation at nearby cafes)  

  • Outstanding customer satisfaction

    4.8 out of 5 star customer rating 

  • Efficient implementation 

    Completed the entire transformation in just six weeks.

WeloveteamingwithSodexo.It'sdefinitelyasuccessstory.
Susan Gehrig CAE’s Vice President of Operations

The Kitchen Works transformation has reshaped how CAE's employees interact and experience their workplace. The results speak for themselves: 63% of people use the café regularly, with near-perfect café ratings at 4.8 out of 5 stars. But what's really happening is bigger than those numbers — the café has turned into the heart of the office where people connect with each other every day.  

"People break bread together. It's a social, inviting, and comfortable environment. In many cases employees work with colleagues online, but now they're connecting in person. There's a lot of deliberate networking taking place in the café," says Susan Gehrig, Vice President of Operations for CAE USA.  

The Kitchen Works implementation has helped forge a deeper sense of community. The café staff — who remember names, preferences and dietary needs — have become an extension of the CAE family. “The café staff is just so generous, kind and helpful” adds Gehrig.

The impact extends far beyond the café walls. CAE USA's leadership team can now use the dining experience to improve employee engagement through the company’s new voucher system. This simple innovation recognizes employees while introducing more employees to the café experience.

The café is an added benefit to encourage employee satisfaction on site. During orientation, new employees are provided a voucher to the café, encouraging them to experience the quality of the dining program. Employees working non-core shifts can enjoy the variety of selections and fresh grab and go items. 

Collaboration That Delivers

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