Kansas Wesleyan says this new food service provider will elevate the student experience

Kansas Wesleyan University is expanding its partnership with JRI Hospitality even further as it was announced the Salina-based company will be the school's new food service provider.

JRI is know in Salina, throughout the state and elsewhere in the country for brands like Mokas Coffee and Eatery, the Salina Country Club and a main franchiser of Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburger.

According to the company's website, JRI's vision is that it "believes food is the best way to bring people together," and this new KWU partnership expands on this.

“We’re excited for this next chapter in the story of building the student experience,” said Matt Thompson, KWU president. “The food we serve our students is critical to the student experience. As we explored how best to serve students, we looked for an unparalleled partner who prioritized the source, quality and variety of the food we would serve our students. JRI Hospitality is an excellent community partner, a well-known representative of the region and a true friend of Kansas Wesleyan."

Previously, JRI has partnered with KWU in other ways, including as the current naming-rights partner for the university's JRI Stadium and assisting with improvements to Mabee Arena.

"Most importantly for this project, however, they provide great products and services with exceptional customer service," Thompson said. "Our students know JRI Hospitality’s brands and understand the quality those brands stand for, thanks to the products they franchise. As we open the renovated and expanded Bieber Dining Hall this fall, we’re thrilled to welcome them to the KWU family in this new fashion and to continue to develop the relationship between our organizations.”

JRI's President and CEO Jason Ingermanson said he is excited for this new endeavor with KWU.

“JRI continues to find ways to be involved in supporting the Salina community and this is another example,” said Jason Ingermanson, president and CEO of JRI Hospitality. “We’re thrilled with our partnership to support and facilitate the elevation of Kansas Wesleyan student dining and look forward to the impact of healthy, hearty meals for all student dining and KWU campus activities as well as providing specially designated nutrition for each of the sports programs at KWU.”

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JRI bringing talented chef on board for KWU

JRI Hospitality has hired Kevin O’Brien to lead the work at KWU. O’Brien is known in this region as an innovator in food service and brings a breadth of experience to this role. He was the lead chef in opening the Renaissance Café and Barolo Grille, and was the previous food and beverage director at the Salina Country Club.

After beginning his adult life in Salina, attending Marymount College, O'Brien moved to Oklahoma, graduating from Oklahoma State University’s Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management Program. He then began working with a variety of talented chefs, including one from Belgium and another from Tuscany. Through these experiences, O’Brien opened Biga, an authentic Northern Italian restaurant owned by the Bodean Group in Tulsa. In 2000, he returned to Salina to continue his culinary career.

“JRI Hospitality shares our commitment to locally sourced foods, menu offerings that meet the needs of our active student population in a way that caters to their personal health needs and providing work opportunities for our students,” said Thompson. “Kevin’s expertise and commitment to quality will define the unique new food service on campus. We are thrilled about what all this means to the future of the KWU student experience. Today is another great day to be a Coyote.”

According to the university, the JRI collaboration will begin early this summer.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina-based JRI to be Kansas Wesleyan's new food service provider