Bon Appétit, the catering company responsible for operating Colorado College’s cafés, added a new dimension to its social media platform this year by expanding to Snapchat, under the account name @BonAppetitCC. BonAppetitCC uploads stories that preview what food is being served and where.
Tyler Dexter, Lead Supervisor of Colorado Coffee, is in charge of the account. He says Bon Appétit management had the idea and offered him the responsibility to promote and maintain social media here at CC. “What got me into Snapchat was talking to students and finding out they were actually using it,” he said. “It’s a great way to connect students with what we have to offer and find what students need, and try to meet those needs.”
For those who don’t know, BonAppetitCC operates on a 24-hour-a-day basis, Monday through Friday, and uploads stories highlighting CC’s eateries. However, there are more meals to cover than there are people to cover them, so only some dishes get their 15 minutes of fame. First-year Andrew Pollack appreciates the idea, but acknowledges that he wishes updates were more regular. “It’s really nice that instead of reading about what your options are, now you can see it,” he said. “I do wish it was more consistent, though. I wish you could always see what was at The Preserve or Rastall.”
Because not every food station can be covered, Dexter and his associates opt to upload stories about the more exciting ones. Bon Appétit is “trying to get people excited and show what we’re offering,” said Dexter. He works to make it an interactive account. “Any time people ask questions and send stuff to me, I’m pretty good about replying,” he said.It seems to be working for sophomore Morgen Seim. “I follow it, and it makes me hungry,” she said. “It makes me want to go wherever the food is.”
Dexter has found videos to be the most effective medium for attracting followers and likes to get creative. For Peach Fest, he made a story in the style of a movie preview, impersonating a deep narration voice and making dramatic commentary on menu items
According to Dexter, the response has been positive. Bon Appétit has “more feedback and followers on Snapchat than on any other social media,” which he believes is because “the platform is more personal, direct, and simplified,” allowing people to “play with it and not be so formal,” he said.