Latest news with #A2L
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Arizona State University Expands Partnership with Aramark: Expertise Across Industries Creates Holistic Hospitality Experience
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arizona State University (ASU), one of the largest universities in the United States, is expanding its partnership with Aramark, adding that company's expertise in other industries to the collegiate hospitality services it currently provides. This customized, comprehensive approach will deliver innovations in collegiate dining, high-end catering, sports facility concessions and club services, and vending to the 18-year relationship with the university, repeatedly ranked as the No. 1 'Most Innovative School' by US News & World Report. 'Aramark's understanding of ASU's mission, combined with our ability to deliver tailored solutions across our portfolio, was key to expanding this partnership,' said Marc Bruno, COO of Aramark U.S. Food and Facilities. 'Aramark is looking forward to continuing its journey with ASU, fostering a vibrant campus environment that supports the university's vision and enhances the overall experience for students, faculty, and the community.' The new agreement leverages the company's collective strength and vast resources and provides ASU with a holistic hospitality ecosystem, connecting student life, athletic events, and community involvement and engagement. 'Building on our 18-year partnership with Aramark, Sun Devils will continue to enjoy the first-rate food quality and service they are accustomed to — from dining halls to arenas, and in vending and retail kiosks across our campuses,' said Rudy Bellavia, Vice President of University Business Services and Chief Procurement Officer. 'The ASU team was diligent in a competitive selection and negotiation process, delivering a 15-year best-in-class agreement with Aramark,' Bellavia said. 'We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Aramark to provide innovative services and sustainable offerings to our Sun Devil community.' Through this multi-divisional business approach, Aramark has successfully created a unified and comprehensive campus experience that will enhance the guest experience and align with ASU's mission and goals. Campus Dining and University Club Aramark will continue to showcase its award-winning hospitality program at ASU, deepening its offerings beyond collegiate dining. ASU will serve as a new training ground for Aramark's 'Accelerate to Leadership (A2L)' program for early career talent development, and a partnership with ASU's Luminosity Lab will prepare solutions for future global business challenges. ASU's Pitchforks dining hall will be transformed to create Pitchforks Global Residential Restaurant, and the Downtown, Polytechnic, and West Valley campuses will have substantive updates made to their dining facilities. Aramark will also now provide catering services at the members-only University Club, partnering with Atlasta, a family-owned catering firm with a rich history at ASU. This collaboration combines local expertise with Aramark's extensive supply chain and purchasing power, ensuring an elevated dining experience for club members. Sun Devil Athletics Aramark's Sports + Entertainment division, the award-winning food and beverage provider at more than 60 premier stadiums, arenas, and sports facilities across North America, will expand its portfolio of Big 12 Conference clients by adding Sun Devil Athletics to its roster. Bringing its professional and collegiate sports experience to the university's stadiums and arenas, Aramark will modernize the food and beverage programs with new food concepts, advancements designed to improve the speed of service at concession stands, and an increased variety of food and beverage offerings. Additionally, infrastructure improvements are planned to improve the overall fan experience. Aramark will leverage data science insights to inform new offerings and upgrades, ensuring that fan satisfaction and performance are continuously enhanced. Food Vending and Refreshment Offerings To round out Aramark's campus presence, ASU will add a robust convenience retail program, with technology-driven micro-markets and new vending options. The focus will be on increased variety, enhanced offerings, and innovation in vending services. About Arizona State University Arizona State University, ranked the No. 1 'Most Innovative School' in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 10 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Repeatedly ranked No. 1, ASU has topped more than 20 lists in the last three years: No. 1 in the U.S. for global impact (Times Higher Education) and No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable practices (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations. About Aramark Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world's leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 16 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Learn more at and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A2L transition, tariffs not yet slowing HVAC sales
This story was originally published on Facilities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Facilities Dive newsletter. The market appears to be accepting 10% higher prices on HVAC equipment as manufacturers comply with requirements to transition to the safer A2L refrigerant over the more traditional refrigerants like R-410A, an analysis by investment bank William Blair shows. Meanwhile, manufacturers haven't yet been hit with severe impacts from the uncertain market environment triggered when the Trump administration earlier this month imposed, and then paused, tariffs on almost 100 countries. 'We believe … 2%-3% could be added on for tariffs … on top of 8%-10% A2L pricing,' say Ryan Merkel and Michael Francis of William Blair in a first quarter 2025 analysis of select HVAC manufacturers and distributors. A2L refrigerants are considered to be safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional refrigerants and starting this year manufacturers are under a directive in the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to move away from refrigerants that produce a lot of hydrofluorocarbons. The AIM Act was enacted in 2020. Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers have released guidelines for companies to transition to the more environmentally friendly refrigerant. ASHRAE's guidelines are in ASHRAE Standard 34, and EPA's rule is at 40 C.F.R. Part 84, the HFC Allocation Rule. A2L refrigerants are expected to increase the cost of HVAC systems because the refrigerant is more expensive and the guidelines require systems to incorporate safety features that go beyond those for traditional refrigerants. 'In the short term, A2L refrigerants may come with higher initial costs due to production and supply adjustments, but prices are expected to stabilize as the market adapts,' a GE Appliances analysis says. 'We did not hear of any [manufacturers] stumbling on their A2L transition,' the William Blair analysts said. Based on their querying of distributors, they estimate A2L will increase HVAC costs 8-10%. 'A2L products started selling in mid-February and represented 90% of equipment sales exiting March,' the analysts said. 'Early signs are that A2L pricing is sticking.' The Trump administration's across-the-board tariff policy was announced in the beginning of the second quarter, April 2, so first quarter tariff impacts reflect the administration's earlier moves affecting Mexico and China. Products from Mexico subject to the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement are exempted from the tariffs, which is expected to reduce many manufacturers' exposure. But manufacturers still face exposure to tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as from tariffs imposed on China prior to April 2. Manufacturers 'announced price increases of 2%-3% for steel, aluminum, and China tariffs and we believe another 2%-3% could be added on for tariffs announced April 2,' the analysts said. Despite the two developments impacting the HVAC sector – the refrigerant transition and the tariffs – the analysts said the quarter ended well for the sector. 'Our first-quarter HVAC index was up 2% on steady demand,' they said, although one headwind is a growing attractiveness of repairing old HVAC systems rather than replacing them because of the escalating costs of the systems. 'We're worried about repair over replace in 2025 but think the A2L transition rules will cause more replace than repair.' Still, costs could have been even higher had the administration's earlier tariffs against Mexico stayed in place. Because the industry has a lot of exposure in Mexico, where many companies manufacture their systems, the sector dodged a bullet when the tariffs on Mexico were pulled back under USMCA. 'We believe 20%-plus tariffs on Mexico imports would have been highly disruptive,' they said. 'Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and York all have sizable production in Mexico, as do major component manufacturers.' Should the Mexican tariff situation change, they said, their outlook would change as well. 'We will not update our models to reflect demand destruction or higher prices for tariffs until we see concrete evidence of changing conditions,' they said. Their analysis is directed at equity investors of three companies in the sector: Watsco, a distributor, and Lennox and AAON, manufacturers. Recommended Reading Amid tariff war, Mexican factories work in HVAC makers' favor, analyst says
