Determining Concordia’s next food service provider is no small feat, but work is progressing. The university expects to be able to begin its search in earnest by the end of the current calendar year. The current food contract with Chartwells ends in May 2015.
Last year, the university’s Services Department conducted a survey of the entire campus community and identified many important factors that will help determine the selection of Concordia’s next food services supplier. They include: quality, competitive pricing, availability of organic and locally sourced foods and other sustainable practices, as well as options to suit a variety of tastes and dietary and religious restrictions.
“We are grateful for the input received from members of the community,” says Sabrina Lavoie, executive director of Budget Planning and Business Development. “The data from our survey will support the working group that is preparing the functional requirements of the tender documents.”
Work on the tender is proceeding according to plan and the university expects it will be able to announce its request for proposals (RFP) by the end of 2014.
Lavoie points out that the university is fully committed to advancing its sustainability practices, which includes food service operations. “We will promote best practices in meeting the needs of the community," she says. “We also recognize the need to engage stakeholders, namely students, as important partners in the overall food system procurement landscape.”
Read about the information-gathering process that began in 2013 and find out more about recent updates to venues on the Loyola Campus.
