Our Partners
Discover how Vol Dining collaborates with local partners and leads initiatives to foster sustainability and support our community.
UT Beef Program
Beef served within our dining halls and Big Orange Grill comes directly from the university’s farms at the Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. The new and innovative project ensures students enjoy fresh, sustainably-raised meat that supports educational and agricultural research.
Learn About The ProgramLocal Sourcing and Partnerships
Vol Dining prioritizes buying locally, fostering relationships with Knoxville-area suppliers and regional suppliers to provide fresh, high-quality products while supporting the local economy.
K Brew
K Brew is a local coffee shop founded by a UT alum, which serves high-quality coffee and bagels made fresh daily on Rocky Top.
Status Dough
Status Dough is a local company founded by a UT alum, which offers artisanal doughnuts and coffee using locally sourced ingredients and made fresh daily in Knoxville.
UT Creamery
A collaboration with the Herbert College of Agriculture and the College of Education, Health, and Human Science, the UT trains students and encourage interest in the dairying profession. Vol Dining proudly serves UT Creamery offerings at Big Orange Grill.
Food Trucks
We are proud to partner with local food trucks to provide different ethnic and unique offerings, while supporting many local businesses.
KaTom Restaurant Supply
Located in East Tennessee, KaTom one of the nation’s largest restaurant equipment suppliers, an excellent partner for Vol Dining equipment needs.
Genera: Sustainable Solutions
Founded in 2008 by a former UT agricultural and resource economist’s research project, Genera has become North America’s largest vertically integrated biomaterials manufacturer, producing a range of agricultural fiber packaging and bioproducts from locally grown regenerative crops.
Vol Dining partners with Genera for compostable single-use containers and other sustainable products, reducing plastic use and enhancing sustainability efforts on campus.
