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Food service & retail consulting for cultural institutions, higher education, corporate dining, and convention centers.

732.274.1694

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  • Home
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    • Team
      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
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Request Consultation
JGL Consultants
  • Home
  • About
    • Team
      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Food & Beverage Consulting
    • Retail Consulting
  • Clients
    • Corporate Dining
    • Higher Education
    • Museums
    • Performing Arts Centers
    • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
    • Convention Centers & Other
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Brochures
    • Presentations
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
  • Contact
    • Request Consultation
JGL Consultants
  • Home
  • About
    • Team
      • Tracy Lawler
      • Brooke Botwinick
      • Connor Leahy
      • Colleen Geyer
      • Hollie Altman
      • John M. Franzini
      • Barry Skown
      • Lisa Baptista
      • Martin Thorson
      • Elise Ruf
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Food & Beverage Consulting
    • Retail Consulting
  • Clients
    • Corporate Dining
    • Higher Education
    • Museums
    • Performing Arts Centers
    • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
    • Convention Centers & Other
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Brochures
    • Presentations
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
  • Contact
    • Request Consultation

Food for Thought

HomeFood for Thought(Page 4)
March 9, 2023
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

JGL Gives Back: The Princeton University Art Museum

JGL is excited to award the Princeton University Art Museum a $3,000 gift in honor of our founder, James G. Lawler. This first gift is significant for the following reasons: Jim wa

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January 18, 2023
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

Is Your Food Service Program Stuck in the Past?

As employees return to the office and student life normalizes, many institutional food service programs are still operating on assumptions — about hours, format, subsidy levels,

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January 18, 2023
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

Your Food Service Contract Is Expiring – Should You Renew or Go Out to Bid?

When a food service contract approaches expiration, the decision to renew or go out to bid is one of the most consequential choices an institution can make. There is no universal r

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January 18, 2023
By Tracy Lawler
Food for Thought

JGL’s Roots – A Tribute to Our Founder

Most people who meet me and learn what I do for a living ask “how did you get into this”? My answer is in a very circular (yet organic) way. It all started with my dad James Ga

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January 18, 2023
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Cheers to 40 Years!

It’s JGL’s 40th Birthday!! We want to celebrate by giving back to the community and honoring the memory of our founder, Jim Lawler. Jim loved the arts, education, trave

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December 19, 2022
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Team Retreat 2022

In November of 2022, the JGL team had the opportunity to come together in person for the first time since 2019! Some of us flew, others drove, but we all met in Manchester, Vermont

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December 19, 2022
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

JGL Competes with Llamas in the Library

Frequently, when JGL is working with a higher education account on an RFP process, we recommend hosting a Town Hall to solicit student feedback. This allows students the opportunit

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December 19, 2022
By Colleen Geyer
Food for Thought

Year in Review: 2022

At JGL, we like to look back at the end of each year and take a moment to emphasize everything that our team has accomplished. See some of this year’s company highlights listed b

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November 23, 2022
By John Franzini
Food for Thought

JGL Goes to Vegas! The Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show

JGL recently attended the biggest and best souvenir and gift show in the county. With over 1,300 booths, the Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show attracts most major cultural in

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November 23, 2022
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Is Your Food Service Provider Keeping it Clean?

💡 Key Insight: Food Safety and Compliance Food safety is one of the most critical and vulnerable areas of any food service operation. Institutions have both a legal and reputati

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Posts pagination

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Recent Posts

April 6, 2026
By Lisa Baptista
Food for Thought

The Power of a Food Service Feasibility Study: Data That Drives Better Decisions

Food service programs are complex and require significant investment and careful planning. Whether an organization is launching a new dining venue, renovating facilities, or rethin

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March 9, 2026
By Martin Thorson
Food for Thought

Food Service at Convention Venues: Balancing Control, Risk, and Return

Food and beverage programs in convention and exposition venues sit at the crossroads of guest experience, financial performance, and operational complexity. As markets shift and ex

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January 13, 2026
By Brooke Botwinick
Food for Thought

Martin Thorson joins as Leader of Convention Center Consulting Practice

JGL Consultants is pleased to announce that Martin Thorson has joined the firm to lead its Convention Center Consulting practice. Martin brings more than two decades of executive l

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December 16, 2025
By JGLadmin
Food for ThoughtRetail

A Look Back at 2025…

It’s that time of year – a time to reflect and take pride in all you’ve accomplished. It has been another banner year at JGL, and we wanted to share some of this year’s

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October 15, 2025
By Lisa Baptista
Retail

Merch with Meaning

For many cultural institutions, retail operations are far more than souvenir stands — but are they being used to their full potential? The merchandise strategy, not just the shop

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JGL Consultants Food Service and Retail Consulting

JGL Consultants is a boutique food service and retail consultancy specializing in cultural institutions, higher education, corporate dining and convention centers. For 40+ years we have bridged the gap between institutional clients and the operators that serve them, delivering optimized financial results, stronger vendor relationships, and measurably better guest experiences.

732.274.1694
in**@************ts.com
224 Cleveland Ln, Princeton, NJ 08540

 

WBENC certified women-owned business
Services
  • Food & Beverage Consulting
  • Retail Consulting
  • Food Service RFP
  • Retail RFP
  • Food Service Feasibility Study
  • Retail Feasibility Study
  • Food Service Assessment
  • Retail Store Assessment
  • Contract Drafting
Resources
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Glossary
  • Brochures
  • Presentations
Company
  • About JGL
  • Our Team
  • Projects
  • Testimonials
Who We Serve
  • Museums
  • Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens
  • Performing Arts Centers
  • Higher Education
  • Corporate Dining
  • Convention Centers & Other
Get Started
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  • Contact Us

Food service and retail consulting for performing arts centers, museums, universities, & convention centers.

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    Navigating Higher Education Food Service Trends

    Modern campus dining programs face unique operational hurdles, ranging from shifting student demographics to persistent supply chain disruptions. Staying informed on these macro trends allows institutional leaders to proactively adjust their amenity and retail strategies for long-term viability.

    Data indicates that flexibility and localized sourcing are critical drivers of student satisfaction and financial performance in contemporary campus dining halls.

    Optimizing Retail Merchandise Outlets on Campus

    Maximizing the profitability of auxiliary retail spaces requires a strategic blend of product curation, appealing visual merchandising, and efficient point-of-sale systems. Educational institutions must treat these spaces as vital engagement hubs rather than mere transactional areas.

    Case studies from leading universities show that integrating popular local brands into campus convenience stores can increase average transaction values by up to fifteen percent.