School cafeterias are typically a focal point for school life among students, not only as a space to enjoy good food but also a space where students share and spend time with their peers. However, at The Columbus School, higher cafeteria prices have motivated students to look somewhere else for food. Students are increasingly moving into this sector, which offers cheaper and more varied food.

Variety and value are the most important considerations for most students when deciding who to buy food from. Senior Camila Gutierrez prefers to buy food from her classmates, as considers the increased cafeteria prices againts the student sellers as a competing factor when choosing snack options at TCS.

“The cafeteria prices are way more expensive,” Gutierrez says. “Sometimes I just go to my friends because I’m doing them a favor, and it’s cheaper… Empanadas that used to be 800 pesos now cost nearly 1,000 pesos, which is a huge leap for a small snack.”

More diverse and tasty alternatives will influence student selection. “Students sell sweeter snacks, whereas the cafeteria sells more salty foods,” Gutierrez states. “It depends on my craving, but the students’ variety tends to be more my type of food.”

To student entrepreneurs like Lucas Henao, selling food is not just a way of earning money in a very fast way during school time but the beginning of a potential future business. Lucas sells mango and noticed that there was potential with the lack of fruit items available in the cafeteria.

“My mangoes are very economic. They’re cheap and effective,” Henao says. His product is still cheap at 5,000 pesos per serving compared to cafeteria items.

In addition to business challenges, Lucas also faces logistical challenges. “I have to sell all of my stock in one day because mangoes go bad,” Henao says. Additionally, he has been limited by school officials. “The vice principal has very strict rules that I cannot sell to younger students, even if their teacher tells me it’s okay. Sometimes my mangoes get taken away.”

Student sellers have not been overlooked by school officials. High school Vice-Principal Mr. Valentin sees both benefits and concerns.

“I enjoy helping students be business people,” declares Mr. Valentin. “But we’d like them to realize real business demands of the marketplace.” The school is considering developing a more rigorous procedure for granting the approval of sale in order to assure that the product is safe to consume.

Even though a few students like Camila think that more rules are necessary to regulate the informality, some people think that stricter policies will decrease the number of student sellers. Mr. Valentin, however, thinks differently and anticipates that the new policy will reduce the number of sellers initially but, in the end, will be more beneficial to the sellers regardless of the new policies, which will train them for further business.

Since the student sellers are successful, should the cafeteria lower prices or add new menu items to remain competitive? Opinions are diverse among the students and the staff. Camila believes the cafeteria can take advantage of the student sellers’ competition to adjust prices. According to Mr. Valentin, things are just great the way they are, presenting the students with an opportunity to fill the vacant spots left behind by the cafeteria.

“If the cafeteria had direct competition from student sellers, it would be hard for them to survive,” maintains Mr.Valentin.

Student food businesses are a major part of school life, selling inexpensive and diverse foods. They promote independence and commercialization but also introduce real-world issues around regulation and competing with the cafeteria. As the school considers new policies, one question remains.” Should the selling process of the student be tightened, or should it remain the same due to the high cafeteria prices? The answer to this question will decide the future of The Columbus School and its selling program.