More Details on the Chartwells Contract
Chartwells, a subsidiary of the Compass group, the largest food service corporation in the world (about 400,000 employees worldwide, and a fortune world rating higher than McDonalds corporation) will be the new food service provider to UMBC.
What
dang, I hate Charbucks. If they’re going corporate, Seattle’s Best is much better.
OMG, it is the return of the Dining Tents.
Im pretty sure Seattle’s Best is owned by Starbucks.
Why only healthier food choices, near or at the RAC? What not all over campus? Allow the students better food choices all the time, not just in one location!
Any ideas about when Starbucks and Au Bon Pain will be put in? Living in Walker, those are the ones that I’m most likely to use…
Stephanie,
The Starbucks is likely to be one of the first things that go in. As for the Au Bon Pain, because a location hasn’t been determined at the moment it might not be one of the first things you see out of the gate.
That said, meetings for this kind of thing have not taken place yet. As things change or are updated, I’ll be sure to let everyone know.
–J
Any ideas what will be going in the commons yet?
Most of the changes sound great, but I can’t stand this “unlimited meal plan” nonsense. By “unlimited” do you actually mean 26? I assume we can’t use more than one meal per meal-time? If 26 is the same price that 19 would have been then it’s a moot point, but if 26 is significantly more expensive, is there a chance you could also offer 19?
No you will be able to buy a certain amount for the entire year (say, a couple hundred) and there will be no meal periods. It is way better than having to plan to spend an exact amount of meals a week or get ripped off if you dont spend them all.
Wow. I’m having a… a moment. This discussion is freakin’ awesome. I mean, just in this thread we’ve got a professor, pesident of the SGA, an Alumni (who just happens to be ex-RSA President, too, I believe), and a bunch of students all sharing info and talking. I’m just so glad - I think this kind of talking is something this campus has needed for a long time. Just wanted to say that real quick, haha. I’m just thrilled to see this kind of talking and I hope it continues.
Gotta sleep, but thanks to everyone who’s provided info and asked questions! This is “totally awesome!” (HOOBASTANK!)
Renovating the dining hall during the school year sounds like the dining hall might be logistically miserable, overcrowded, substandard, etc.
Compass Group’s is in some interesting legal and political issues around the world (summarizing issues in wikipedia to follow). Including million dollar bribes to UN officials in order to get huge contracts in Liberia (up to $350M), lawsuits (from competitors) with regards to free trade, racketeering, and anti-trust issues, and overcharging the US government in Iraq (along with Sodexo), etc.
I guess these things were either common issues across the board of the food companies or weren’t as important as other issues on campus. Does anyone know if any local caterers were considered? Or is all the information about the selection private?
RALPH?, my impression from the UMBCtv interview is that the 200 meal block is a separate option from 26/week. If the price is right I’ll definitely consider that one though.
Jay said the reason for changing is that students will generally eat how much they want and won’t necessarily use all of their unlimited meals. If the price is comparable to 19, fine. But if the price increases, it feels like “we’re going to charge you for meals our research shows you won’t use.”
@Tim Courtney:
“I assume we can
Cool, thanks Jay, I hope they’re just renaming 19 too…
What about the non-student food service workers? What will happen to their jobs?
@AZK
officially they will have to go through a re-hire process with Chartwells. but experience does matter, so expect employees that have been around UMBC for a while to stay.
Does anyone know if we will be able to use meals at the Starbucks, Chick-fil-a, and Au Bon Pain?
That is the plan.
Just wondering - is the administration still planning on leaving the Jazzman’s in the Commons at its current location, or are they going to swap that out with Starbucks, or just change to a different style vendor?
As I understand it that Jazzman’s is going to be replaced by the Au Bon Pain in the Commons (wherever that will be located)
Prof X. You said it bub.
Oh, th’ lack of ‘tru’ Cajun gril’ in th’ D-hall is a dart to th’ heart.
I am still appalled by the lack of cycloptic accessible eating locations on Campus.
I was wondering, what are the main differences between what Sodexho was offering and Chartwells. Most of the stuff I have seen so far have been the same. For example, chick-fil-a and starbucks in the uc, rearranging the commons as well as new meal plan and eating options. If such a major decision has been made to kick Sodexho out, there must have been some major differences between the proposals?
I’ve never even heard of Au Bon Pain.
Chick-fil-A sounds awesome.
I actually like the BBQ place in the commons now.
If there is going to be Kosher food (YAY!!!) in the Dining Hall, are we not going to have the Smart Market area in the commons?
The commons is so much more convienent between classes, that sound be where everything new is, not the dining hall.
STARBUCKS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ian
Short answer, the content of the food service operations bids are proprietary information and by state contract law, the names of the other bidders and the content within their bid are confidential.
Long answer, the process that took place to ultimately pick Compass Group / Chartwells was a very competitive process that gave no preference to any specific company. This was not a process to get rid of sodexho by any means, as Sodexho / Wood Company has served the UMBC campus with quality service for many years. The process that took place evaluated each vendors proposal and carefully examined things like the proposed management teams, resident dining program, proposed facilities renovations, the retail program, plans for kosher dining, as well considering the financial aspects (costs of student meal plans, profit provided to the university, and the investment the company was willing to make in facilities renovations. After careful analysis, Chartwells was ultimately awarded the food service operations contract.
Although it’s going to be sad to see sodexho leaving us (and the familiar management staff that we’re used to seeing, like Tim Tenon, Marc Chabot, and company), I am excited for Chartwells and their new management group come in and see some of these changes they have in store for us!
-Jeremy
@ smartie:
As I understand, Au Bon Pain (French for “‘At the’ Good Bread”) is a Panera like food place. And Panera is awesome
I’ve personally never been to an Au Bon Pain, but I’m looking forward to it!
Ya, I didn’t think you would answer my question.
@Ian:
I hate to say it, but it’s not that we would or wouldn’t, but that we can’t. Maryland’s ass-backwards procurement law is extremely clear that anything that goes on behind those doors must remain there. I want nothing more than to tell everyone what we saw, what we liked and didn’t like, and all that kind of stuff because it’s very much your business, but unfortunately my hands and the hands of all students that took part in the process are tied.
–J
Ya I know, that is what I meant.
ABP is amazing! I’ve enjoyed it many-a-time visiting my BF in Connecticut. I’m delighted that it’s making an appearance at UMBC next year!
@smartie
Not everyone eats between or after classes. If they put nothing new at the dining hall, that would be unfair to all the students in the dorm halls right by the dining hall to have to walk all the way to the commons in the morning or for dinner if they want something new and different. All of our eating establishments need to be updated in order for the change to really be successful.