Lancer Hospitality has a 30+ year history in the food service and catering business.
Lancer Hospitality was started by Glenn Baron and Steve Craver. Mr. Baron and Mr. Craver have been friends since junior high school and business partners since 1979. Their first enterprise together was creating and running Blue Bell Enterprises, an ice cream vending company that at one time included 125 ice cream trucks. While the two no longer own ice cream trucks, their business has grown to include retail food and beverage service in college and corporate cafeterias, K-12 schools and large public attractions.
In 2017 the company was acquired by Elior North America whose headquarters are in Charlotte, NC.
1976
The business began with the purchase of a used Postal truck. Company founder, Glenn Baron, refurbished the truck to sell ice cream in Madison, WI where he was attending college.
1981
Glenn recruited high school friend Steve Craver to move to Minneapolis and become his business partner.
1989
Since 1989 Lancer has been a foodservice partner for the Minnesota State Fair. The company has multiple foodservice outlets in the Warner Rose Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds which holds one of the largest state fairs in the country.
1993
The Company was awarded a food and beverage contract at Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN.
2002
Lancer’s first contract at a community college was Inver Hills Community College with 4,000 students.
2005
The company was awarded a contract by the City of Saint Paul to redevelop Como Town Amusement Park. The new four-acre Amusement Park opened in May 2005.
2009
Lancer made a big move into Washington in 2009 by taking the contracts for Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle), Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Tacoma), and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (Tacoma).
2013
In 2013 the company won the foodservice, alcohol and management contract for the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN. The largest arena in the Civic Center can accommodate 7,000 visitors.
2017
Lancer Hospitality becomes part of the Elior family of companies. Elior North America provides culinary management service to cultural attractions, corporate dining, healthcare and educational institutions across the country.
2017
Lancer expanded its business to Oklahoma in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Zoo. They won the contract for foodservice, catering and retail.
2018
The company began a partnership with the Philadelphia Zoo and assumed operations of its foodservice and catering in 2018.