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Michigan college expands food options with unattended coolers

Image courtesy Henry Ford College

October 28, 2026

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Henry Ford College has installed two refrigerated PicoCoolers on its main campus in Dearborn, Michigan, giving students access to food after the Skylight Café closes at 2 p.m., according to a college announcement. The units, located in the Technology Building and Reuther Liberal Arts Building, offer salads, sandwiches, meats and cheeses, quick meals and snacks.

The college's Student Council pursued the pilot after students raised concerns about the lack of food options later in the day. Campus food service provider Aramark proposed the PicoCoolers after council members and college officials considered alternatives, including mini-markets and additional restaurants.

Items cost from 79 cents to $7, and the units accept credit and debit cards but not cash. Prices automatically decrease as products approach their expiration dates, a feature intended to reduce food waste. The college plans to gather student feedback and review sales data before deciding whether to expand the program.