— from Ian Sterling for Washington State Ferries —
When it came time for Washington State Ferries to put its vending, galley-service and other retail-concession contracts out to bid, the organization put the customer experience at the center of its request for proposals. On Monday, March 28, WSF chose hospitality-and-retail company Centerplate following a competitive-proposal process involving eight firms that provide various services.
“Our customers see ferries as more than transit,” said WSF Community Services and Planning Director Kristina Arsenault. “Our system’s vessels and terminals are valued community gathering places, and the food, drink and spaces should reflect that. Centerplate’s proposal offers spaces and products that reflect the unique local character of our region to commuters and tourists alike.”
WSF chose Centerplate for its ability to expand service, offer a variety of local food brands and improve reliability across all 10 of WSF’s ferry routes. The company’s contract is for the system-wide galley service; system-wide vending; the Anacortes Ferry Terminal café; and the Seattle and Anacortes Ferry Terminal news, convenience and book stores. Centerplate’s proposal outlines the following features:
- Consistent hours of service across the system, with additional service in the San Juan Islands.
- Creative, fresh and healthful product offerings, including local brands such as Hempler’s beef and ham, Uli’s sausage, Beecher’s cheese, and Stimson Estate Cellars wine.
- Creative concepts for using existing spaces, such as opening additional coffee and beer kiosks on the Jumbo Mark II class ferries.
- Promotions and incentives, such as commuter-reward programs.
Centerplate brings more than 23 years of experience of providing concessions in a maritime environment for The Steamship Authority in Massachusetts. The company also operates concessions at Safeco Field; Tacoma Dome; and other public venues in Spokane, Yakima, Portland and Vancouver, BC.
WSF expects the transition from existing concessionaires to Centerplate for the selected services to be complete by mid-June. Proposal evaluation for food-and-beverage services at the Seattle Ferry Terminal will be completed soon.
WOW; brings back memories of Saga Foods, or as we called them in years past, “Soggy Foods”. In any event, a new vendor brings hope of real food, something other than pre-cooked, fried “stuff”.
I remember in the distant past when the grills were in regular operation, it was possible to get a real breakfast, “eggs over easy, with bacon”. Some of the regular truckers, like me, were able to get the staff to rustle up some real grub coming home, fresh fish, broccoli and a baked potato. Oh, please bring back the “good old days”.
In any event, it is notable that the new vendor has committed to an equal menu and eating experience here in the Islands, bearing in mind that our yearly ridership pales in comparison to the down-Sound routes.
We, the San Juan locals, should support the new venture as often as possible so that we keep this new service well into the future.
I would like to order ” a 6oz sirloin, a twice-baked potato, and a small Caeser salad; my wife would like to order the lobster mac&cheese”.
WSF cannot build ferries outside the state, but it can contract with a Connecticut corporation for concession services?
This means closing the Cheesecake Cafe and the snack bar.
Really?
All WSF cares about is which vendor will give them the biggest slice of the “pie’. It has nothing to do with quality or service. Over the years they yanked the table cloth out from under numerous vendors. If they keep it up we will once again have no food on the ferry’s, it has happened before. The profit margin for the vendors is very slim and for some reason WSF thinks they have a very valuable commodity.
Did you ever wonder why we have no food service on the inter-island ferry?
Many years ago when we did have service, sales were abysmally low. The WSF manager wanted to cancel the service since the State gets a percentage of sales. I asked that manager if she would give us one more season to work towards a sales increase. She agreed. We failed . Service gone!!
The bottom line is sales and revenue. If, for example, sales were decent on the later runs, the vendor might be able to extend service for the afternoon sailings. Supply and demand. Expenses and profits.
Given that this vendor provides great service at other venues in Seattle, like Safeco Field, we should be optimistic that food service on our ferries will improve. Get out your checkbook !!
So We can expect 6 dollar hot dogs and 10 dollar beer
AAHHHH! And remember the huge, fresh strawberry shortcake dessert for $2.00??? Topped with whipped cream, too!
We were REALLY sad to see THAT go!