NC State Dining and Wolfpack Outfitters have been honored with the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) South Outstanding Collaboration/Partnership Award, recognizing their outstanding work to transform several campus retail spaces. The award highlights the university’s successful initiative to merge dining and bookstore operations into three concepts, thereby improving the student experience and maximizing institutional resources.
Award-Winning Efficiency and Growth
The NACAS South Business Partnership Award celebrates initiatives that demonstrate excellence in collaborative business models. The NC State submission detailed the impressive financial and operational turnaround of the three locations:
beverages, school supplies and NC State merchandise.
- Centennial Market: Converting underutilized bookstore space into a grab-and-go dining hub with a curated selection of NC State merch and school supplies reduced operational costs, boosted foot traffic and drove record sales. The new model exceeded revenue goals and secured strong student and staff patronage, proving it was now meeting a vital campus need.
- Creature Comforts Cafe + Market: Developed with input from the College of Veterinary Medicine, this location combined patron traffic from both departments to extend service hours for hospital staff and provide NC State-branded merchandise. After rebranding and removing the “no pets” rule, sales grew steadily year over year.
- Social Fabric Cafe + Market: This project consolidated a cafe and convenience store into a single operation for the Wilson College of Textiles. This efficiency allowed the former store space to be converted into a new, jointly funded community lounge and study space for students.
“This recognition from NACAS South validates our commitment to breaking down departmental silos to better serve our campus,” said Rich Berlin, associate vice chancellor for Campus Enterprises. “By merging our strengths, we’ve created a sustainable model that not only improves the bottom line but, more importantly, creates better community spaces for our students, faculty and staff.”
These initiatives serve as a blueprint for sustainable campus development, proving that thoughtful collaboration can maximize resources and create long-term benefits for the entire university ecosystem.
About Campus Enterprises, NC State Dining and Wolfpack Outfitters
NC State Dining and Wolfpack Outfitters are divisions of Campus Enterprises at NC State University. They are dedicated to providing high-quality services, essential academic supplies, and community-focused dining options that support the university’s mission.
About NACAS
NACAS (National Association of College Auxiliary Services) is the premier professional association supporting auxiliary services in higher education. The NACAS South Business Partnership Award recognizes institutions and commercial partners that collaborate to deliver innovative solutions and services to the campus community.