DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — DME Academy is pleased to announce a new food service partnership with Elior Independent School Dining, a national dining and hospitality provider serving independent and private schools across the country.
The partnership represents a major investment in the DME student experience, bringing a more customized, nutrition-focused and student-centered dining program to the Academy’s Daytona Beach campus.
As a school built around the full development of student-athletes, DME Academy sought a food service partner that understood the importance of quality, consistency, nutrition, variety and hospitality. Elior was selected for its ability to deliver fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals while supporting the needs of a diverse student body that includes residential students, day students and athletes training across multiple sports. The selection process included direct input from DME students and coaches on what they wanted from their dining experience and Elior’s sports nutrition expertise and seven-day-a-week service model set it apart from other providers DME considered.
“At DME Academy, the student-athlete experience extends well beyond the classroom and the court or field,” said Seth Brown, President and CEO of DME Academy. “Food is a daily part of how students feel, perform, recover and connect with one another. Moving to Elior allows us to provide a dining experience that better reflects the level of care, structure and support we want every student to feel on campus.”
Elior’s program will focus on scratch-prepared meals, fresh ingredients, menu variety and allergen-aware options that reflect the needs and preferences of DME’s residential students, day students and athletes training across multiple sports.
With students representing more than 26 countries, DME Academy also wanted a dining partner who could make the campus feel like home for a global community while introducing students to new flavors. Alongside scratch-prepared traditional favorites, the dining program features Southern Vietnamese-inspired rice noodle bowls; Mezze Table, showcasing the fresh, vibrant flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean; and authentic Korean cuisine. Together, these concepts create a dining program that celebrates global flavors while meeting diverse dietary preferences.
For DME’s student-athletes, one of the most meaningful parts of the partnership is Elior’s FUELED sports nutrition platform. Built to support training, performance and recovery, this nutrition program gives student-athletes:
- Seven-day-a-week dining service with fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings
- Sports nutrition-focused menus designed to support training, performance, recovery and overall wellness
- Team nutrition presentations and educational programming
- Customized training tables and pre-game dining experiences
- Performance-focused to-go meals and boxed meals for teams traveling to competition
Beyond day-to-day meals, FUELED is designed to help students understand the connection between the food choices they make and how those choices affect their energy, recovery, performance and overall well-being, building habits that can carry into their academic, athletic and professional careers.
“DME Academy is a dynamic campus with a clear commitment to developing the whole student-athlete,” said Todd Hickman, SVP Elior Independent School Dining. “Our goal is to create a dining program that supports that mission every day, with meals that are fresh, inclusive, nourishing and connected to the rhythms of student life, training and competition.”
The transition to Elior is part of a broader effort by DME Academy to continue strengthening the residential and student life experience. Alongside recent investments in student support, campus programming and community development, the new food service partnership reflects DME’s ongoing commitment to creating an environment where students can grow academically, athletically and personally.
In addition to daily dining, Elior will support DME Academy through catering and hospitality services for campus events, admissions visits, family programming, athletic events and community gatherings. These services will help elevate the overall campus experience for students, families, staff, guests and prospective families visiting DME Academy.
About DME Academy
DME Academy is a private school and elite athletic training academy located in Daytona Beach, Florida. DME provides a complete student-athlete development experience that combines academics, sport-specific training, residential life, leadership development and college preparation. With programs across multiple sports, DME supports students as they pursue growth in the classroom, in competition and across campus life. Visit: www.dmeacademy.com
About Elior Independent School Dining
Elior Independent School Dining provides dining and catering services to independent and private schools across the country, serving millions of meals each year. Elior partners with schools to create customized dining programs focused on fresh ingredients, hospitality, wellness, nutrition and inclusive campus experiences. Visit: www.elior-independentschools.com
