The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

Food service contract with Aramark ends 2015

New bids will be available to extend or replace existing contract with district
Will Owenby
Staff Writer // [email protected]
THIS FALL LOS RIOS Community College District extended its food service contract with Aramark for another year. The food service contract gives the company exclusive rights to all food service, including any catering or concessions on campus.

According to a City College food service update issued in October, the extension allows Aramark to continue the operation of all LRCCD food service facilities for one year, excluding vending machines.

The food service agreement approved in 2008 is composed of a series of one-year contracts, with a seven-year potential, which require an annual review before a renewal by the district.

The agreement with Aramark ends in 2015, and new bids for food service will be accepted at that time, according to Robert Martinelli, City College vice president of administration.

The contract financial commitment for the food service contract is $500,000, and of that amount $350,000 was spread among all four LRCCD colleges in the first year, according to Martinelli. The City College portion of the distributed contract funds purchased the Panther Pause trailer next to Lillard Hall.

A food service advisory group was formed to provide a forum for requests and feedback for food services to the college. A common complaint regarding Aramark often comes from student clubs, said Martinelli.

“The clubs see the exclusive provision [from Aramark’s contract] blocking a significant source of fundraising revenue,” Martinelli said.

In an effort to provide a solution for the fundraising complaint, Aramark came up with a fundraising food service pack for campus organizations. For the cost of the food plus a 15 percent charge, clubs are able to serve food for campus events. In addition to food, Aramark provides oversight and food safety training, according to Martinelli.

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William Gant, a theater major who eats and socializes in the cafeteria a few times a week, said he is unconcerned about the quality of the menu.

“What do you expect? It’s a school cafeteria, and I do not really give it much thought,” Gant said. “I guess some stuff’s OK, but some of it’s overpriced and not
so good.”

Tony Gonzales, undeclared major, is attending his first semester at City College and said he feels that taste, variety and value are the primary issues for
Aramark’s menu.

“They don’t use much seasoning when they cook, and there is not really a lot of choice,” he said.

He said he wants to try the Build-a-Bowl Bar, but limited hours and long lines have deterred him.

“The noodle Chinese bar looks good, but it’s hardly ever open, and if it is, the line is way too long,” Gonzales said.

With the exception of soft drink pouring, soft drink and snack vending machines that are under exclusive contract with Pepsi, all food service for LRCCD is contracted to Aramark’s Food Handling Service, Martinelli said.

According to Aramark’s website, the company offers a wide range of institutional services, including food service for over 2,200 K-12 schools, colleges and universities. In 2011 Forbes magazine listed Aramark as No. 18 on its richest privately owned business list in the United States.

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