Kylemore to take over all on-campus catering and food outlets (apart from SU shops_

mloc

So, apparently, Kylemore are to take over all the on campus food outlets apart from those run by the SU, at the end of this month.

This includes Cafe Fresca (formerly O' Briens), Insomnia, 911, Arts Cafe (Hilpers) etc.

It's a little curious that this is happening so quickly and over the summer; the manager of Cafe Fresca was removed from a meeting by security when he queried whether this takeover had gone to tender. It is a serious issue for many of the staff of these outlets who are now out of a job.

It is unlikely this takeover is going to help prices or indeed food quality, if the restaurant is anything to go by. Where are our wonderful SU during all of this?

Raphael

Oh good, someone is going to be replacing Insomnia. Was starting to get worried.

Don't see why this is anything to do with the SU, tbh. It's not really a student issue. I imagine the reason this is happening over the summer is to minimise the disruption while the changeover is occuring.

graduate

I think it is a student issue. The previous arrangement had some diversity and there was a least scope for discussion on which had the best range of sandwiches or whatever. Now there is little competition and this is of no benefit to students (or staff for that matter). UCD is not TCD, you cannot easily go out to other refreshment locations. I would have thought that competition was of benefit to the customer, this arrangement is based on maximum kickback to Tierney.

unknown13

I don't think anyone cares who takes over the catering once it is decent food and cheap. UCD is a rip off for food.

Will

I previously went to DCU and that place is most likely on par with UCD

Fad

Kylemore run/ran Elements and the food was fairly decent in there, not exactly cheap though.

I'm interested to see how this pans out!

errlloyd

Really not an SU issue.

I know all 5 of the incoming officers know about the situation, and I know they're taking it seriously. But at the end of the day, they can no more change this then get coke back or a branch of Bank of Ireland on campus.

On the plus side I imagine this sort of deal is worth a fair bit of money, and I can't imagine anywhere being much worse then the arts cafe.

Raphael

graduate wrote: »

I think it is a student issue. The previous arrangement had some diversity and there was a least scope for discussion on which had the best range of sandwiches or whatever. Now there is little competition and this is of no benefit to students (or staff for that matter). UCD is not TCD, you cannot easily go out to other refreshment locations. I would have thought that competition was of benefit to the customer, this arrangement is based on maximum kickback to Tierney.

Good. The University needs the money, and I'd rather it got it from restricting food choice than from firing lectures and disbanding departments. I'm guessing you were also opposed to the Britvic exclusivity deal?

parker kent

mloc wrote: »

It is unlikely this takeover is going to help prices or indeed food quality, if the restaurant is anything to go by. Where are our wonderful SU during all of this?

Comparisons with Elements and the canteen in Blackrock are far better than the Restaurant given Kylemore run/ran both of them.

I wonder what happens the empty space that was Elements?

Tayto2000

Elements is coming back, I think they're just gone while the building gets done up, same as Chemistry.

A monopoly situation backed by UCD authorities doesn't sound good. I'm sure it simplifies things for the commercial office, but I think the loss of diversity is a bad thing. Some of those franchises have been in operation for well over ten years now, 911 and the arts cafe (Hilpers!) in particular. Also, Kylemore is a byword for overpriced mediocrity outside UCD. I was never too impressed by Elements, it was OK but never lived up to its initial promise.

Disastrous decision, but I can see the reasons for it. No doubt Kylemore are paying through the nose for this...

RandolphEsq

Facking Insomnia is going? Liked their deals on sandwiches and pastries with coffees.

triseke

I have to agree with Raphael on this. I really don't care about having a million different choices of food to eat, whilst lecturers are being fired, the library is not getting new books etc


If you don't like what's on offer to eat in UCD, bring your own lunch with you!

mloc

The solution to all our problems is to bring in fees, reform the grant system and bring a few fun franchises to campus! YAY!

parker kent

mloc wrote: »

The solution to all our problems is to bring in fees, reform the grant system and bring a few fun franchises to campus! YAY!

What like Stringfellows? :pac:

Just in case anybody is confused or angry, I'm joking!

Raphael

As a matter of interest, what'll be staying - I know the food in the bars would be SU operated, are Café Brava and the Grind?

parker kent

Raphael wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what'll be staying - I know the food in the bars would be SU operated, are Café Brava and the Grind?

Yeah I was wondering the same. Things like 911 appeal to a different type of person (i.e donut eaters and those who like crap sandwiches :pac:). I thought The Grind hasn't been open for a while though...just sandwiches down at the food place at the front of the Student Cente.

Raphael

Pretty sure it's just closed up for the summer, with Brava covering sandwiches in the interim. According to the website it only has term-time hours, so is probably just closed out of.

I will dearly miss the soup from Arts Cafe.

parker kent

Raphael wrote: »

Pretty sure it's just closed up for the summer, with Brava covering sandwiches in the interim. According to the website it only has term-time hours, so is probably just closed out of.

Sure staff and postgrads don't have to eat anyway. Air is all we need :pac:

Raphael

Air? Pfft, lightweight. Learn to subsist on sunlight and the energy of the universe, it really stretches your grant money.

groovyg

mloc wrote: »

So, apparently, Kylemore are to take over all the on campus food outlets apart from those run by the SU, at the end of this month. It's a little curious that this is happening so quickly and over the summer; the manager of Cafe Fresca was removed from a meeting by security when he queried whether this takeover had gone to tender. It is a serious issue for many of the staff of these outlets who are now out of a job.

Yeah I heard he was asking if it had gone to tender but from looking at the etenders website it seems it was advertised.

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN235236&catID=2
Everybody seemed shocked by the notice, but if you knew your contract with the college was up then why did they not apply. Its all very strange how so many outlets are gone and are claiming they didn't know about the tender.

Tayto2000

Wow, three weeks between submission and announcing that everyone is is being shut down. Harsh.

It was on the eTenders site, but was it advertised anywhere else? eTenders is a requirement for public contracts now afaik, was it put up on the quiet to allow Kylemore to bid unopposed? Whole thing sounds dodgy so far...

keepkeyyellow

Kylemore is for grannies.

ironclaw

Insomnia and Fresca were my first choice on campus. O'Briens sandwiches couldn't be beat. Really disappointed to hear about this.

Another UCD monopoly that we'll all pay through the teeth for.

mloc

Sent to staff today:

Dear Colleagues,

I am now in a position to confirm that Kylemore catering who currently operate in UCC and numerous other locations are to be UCD’s primary provider of food and beverage services throughout the various licensees managed by the Commercial Office.

They are to bring to us a wide choice of food and beverage options including Starbucks, Java Coffee and various other well known brands.

The service that you have come to expect from your existing unit operator will be maintained and indeed improved upon.

During the transition period there will inevitably be short closure periods to facilitate fit out and refurbishment and below is a list of locations where alternative food services are available.

Main Restaurant
Cafe Brava (Students Centre)
Cafe Sport (Sports Centre)

Those who have placed orders for food and beverages with their existing supplier who will have ceased trading on the 12th August are requested to place those orders with the above providers.

We would appreciate your co-operation during this period of major change.

Kind Regards,


Gary Moss
Commercial Manager, Head of Support Unit
Commercial, Residential and Hospitality Services
University College Dublin

c7

I work in one of the aforementioned catering outlets and I know our tender was up for renewal a few weeks ago, so its possible UCD have the same arrangement with other companies. A lot of the academic/admin staff from campus are customers and they had been saying that there were no issues with our outlet and there was no need to worry about it not being renewed. Would be interesting to know how open the tender was as you've been suggesting.

groovyg

Is cafe brava owned by the university? That dump makes 911 look healthy. Judging from the length of time they had the tender notice up it seems like it was a done deal and they just advertised to keep it all legal.
Kylemore seem to have monopoly in UCC as well.

Red Alert

Many staff in fact did not receive the above e-mail at all.

If the commercial office were planning on bringing Kylemore in, I'd rather they'd have given them the main Restaurant, where the food currently is dreadful and very expensive as well. They could have done something like their "Food Life" food court in Stephen's Green which is actually quite varied, well thought out and tasty. I think people often think all their outlets are like the old-style one in O'Connell Street. So first of all, the worst restaurant out of the lot of them here is not being addressed in this change, and realistically won't ever be.

That leaves competition as the next big problem. In TCD you've essentially got a huge choice of cafes, restaurants and pubs to have food in, right on your doorstep. Every price range and type of food is catered for. While the outlets we have already never really competed with each other, we now have a de-facto monopoly. There are only one or two off-campus places within walking distance from which to buy a sandwich or tea, which means that the food outlets within UCD are not really subject to market pressures at all. A similar set-up operates in Dublin Airport, where most of the food outlets and bars are all run by one operator. And to be perfectly honest, would anyone eat in any of the airport outlets by choice?

CramCycle

Raphael wrote: »

Oh good, someone is going to be replacing Insomnia. Was starting to get worried.

Some people like it (I personally don't like their coffee, it is terrible), I loved their soup and their sandwiches.

Don't see why this is anything to do with the SU, tbh. It's not really a student issue.

It is directly affecting students as students are the main customers, previously they had a little bit of choice, now they have almost none. Nicely done quickly and quitely over the summer before the SU could get a chance to kick up a fuss or even bother too.

unknown13 wrote: »

I don't think anyone cares who takes over the catering once it is decent food and cheap. UCD is a rip off for food.

Elements being one of the worst examples for overpriced, average food.

Fad wrote: »

Kylemore run/ran Elements and the food was fairly decent in there, not exactly cheap though.

Thought I'd emphasize the important bit there.

parker kent wrote: »

Yeah I was wondering the same. Things like 911 appeal to a different type of person (i.e donut eaters and those who like crap sandwiches :pac:). I thought The Grind hasn't been open for a while though...just sandwiches down at the food place at the front of the Student Cente.

The sandwiches in front of that weird chipper place are the grind, they just don't set up the full thing during the summer.

Tayto2000 wrote: »

Wow, three weeks between submission and announcing that everyone is is being shut down. Harsh.

It was on the eTenders site, but was it advertised anywhere else? eTenders is a requirement for public contracts now afaik, was it put up on the quiet to allow Kylemore to bid unopposed? Whole thing sounds dodgy so far...

The manager in Cafe Fresca didn't know and only found out after the contract had been awarded, i get the impression they are going to try to fight this and I personally hope they do. I may not like their prices for sandwiches but they are still of a better quality than any kylemore outlet or Elements IMO

Red Alert wrote: »

Many staff in fact did not receive the above e-mail at all.

I only received it this weekend, from the head of the Conway, didn't come through the general ucd.ie e-mail

Tazzle

mloc wrote: »

So, apparently, Kylemore are to take over all the on campus food outlets apart from those run by the SU, at the end of this month.

This includes Cafe Fresca (formerly O' Briens), Insomnia, 911, Arts Cafe (Hilpers) etc.

It's a little curious that this is happening so quickly and over the summer; the manager of Cafe Fresca was removed from a meeting by security when he queried whether this takeover had gone to tender. It is a serious issue for many of the staff of these outlets who are now out of a job.

It is unlikely this takeover is going to help prices or indeed food quality, if the restaurant is anything to go by. Where are our wonderful SU during all of this?

Kylemore have operated UCCs catering for the last few years. I can tell you first hand that I have found them pretty abysmal. A typical outsourced business, corner cutting instead of quality. Hopefully they do a better job in UCD.

parker kent

We don't really have to wonder what Kylemore will be like in UCD or compare them to UCC given they already cater in Smurfit and they previously did Elements. It will be pretty similar.

Sofa King Great

Would I be correct in assuming that the outlets previously operated by insomnia, 911 and cAfe fresca are closed this week?

Raphael

You would indeed sir. Fresca, 911 and the Insomnia in Conway are all definitely closed.

CramCycle

Raphael wrote: »

You would indeed sir. Fresca, 911 and the Insomnia in Conway are all definitely closed.

Is there anywhere decent for staff/students this week then? I really needed my overpriced coffee hit this morning

Is the grind staying open?

Raphael

The Grind has been closed all summer.

Currently open is: The restaurant, Café Brava, the Sports Café, and all SU shops. Centra is also probably still open, but I haven't been up that way today.

CramCycle

Raphael wrote: »

The Grind has been closed all summer.

Currently open is: The restaurant, Café Brava, the Sports Café, and all SU shops. Centra is also probably still open, but I haven't been up that way today.

The grind is currently part of that chipper/chinese (is cafe brava that place?) on the ground floor for the summer. Just didn't know if they were closed or not. Are Kylemore making many changes to the other businesses, no work going on in cafe fresca, seen the new crowd interviewing/talking to the old staff, whether that means they will remain or not is yet to be seen, no more decent coffee down there either way (it did used to be bad but then they learned how to clean the machine and not leave stale grinds in it anymore and it improved tremendously).

Raphael

Yeah, that's Café Brava. They're not going anywhere, got my lunch from there today.

I remember hearing somewhere that the part of Kylemores contract was not firing all the old staff and bringing in new ones, but I don't know how true that is. If nothing else, It'll save them doing much training if they rehire people.

mloc

Had a crap lunch from Cafe Brava today.

I think it's going to be a case of bringing in my own lunch today and eating it where Insomnia used to be. There's a sign up in Insomnia (in Conway), incidentally, indicating that it will soon house a Starbucks.

boodles

I wouldnt get too excited about klyemore, serious corner cutting and food is mediocre. Overall food quality very poor and samey:eek::eek::eek:

CramCycle

mloc wrote: »

Had a crap lunch from Cafe Brava today.

I think it's going to be a case of bringing in my own lunch today and eating it where Insomnia used to be. There's a sign up in Insomnia (in Conway), incidentally, indicating that it will soon house a Starbucks.

I died a little inside when I seen the Starbucks sign, it was bad enough overpaying Insomnia for sour coffee, now I'll be overpaying (by alot more) Starbucks/Kylemore for weak barely flavoured coffee.

OneOfThem Stumbled

CramCycle wrote: »

I died a little inside when I seen the Starbucks sign, it was bad enough overpaying Insomnia for sour coffee, now I'll be overpaying (by alot more) Starbucks/Kylemore for weak barely flavoured coffee.

Hey don't knock the quality of Starbucks coffee (apart from filter). It's only the price that is a nightmare (even if it is reduced on campus). Hopefully a large amount of diversity will be maintained between the different food outlets - although personally I have always found the SU bars the best.

CramCycle

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

Hey don't knock the quality of Starbucks coffee (apart from filter). It's only the price that is a nightmare (even if it is reduced on campus). Hopefully a large amount of diversity will be maintained between the different food outlets - although personally I have always found the SU bars the best.

I'll introduce a correction then, in my opinion, Starbucks isn't great quality coffee. I'll be back to making my own full time again, it was just nice to pop out and have it done for me.

Also Cafe Fresca is now Pulse Cafe, complete with tackey red heartbeat logo.

Red Alert

Is it still going to be doing a similar menu to Fresca?

CramCycle

Red Alert wrote: »

Is it still going to be doing a similar menu to Fresca?

On the basis (I am guessing) they aren't doing any work inside then I presume there will be little in the way of changes to the style of the place ie a sandwich bar with coffee and pastries. It will undoubtedly change a bit menu wise but there are no signs up in regards to that end of things.

littlefriend

CramCycle wrote: »

in my opinion, Starbucks isn't great quality coffee.

Totally agree. Its terrible!

misslt

This is going to be such a pain.

We can't choose where to eat (we have the restaurants overpriced mediocrity or Kylemore overpriced mediocrity) and its so bloody hard to find somewhere to eat your own lunch.

Bit crap imo.

Sad to see insomnia go, I have to say I love their white chocolate mochas

Only discovered cafe fresca about 3 weeks before term ended, thought it was great. Very difficult to get a decent salad on campus

Pride Fighter

I'm glad I'm no longer a student in UCD. It is not ethical for there to be a monopoly on campus. Perhaps the SU should introduce a Co-Op cafe and put the profits into the Student Welfare fund.

eilo1

This is awful!

No more chicken pesto wraps from cafe fresca!!

Well at least kylmore might bring back coke!

Raphael

eilo1 wrote: »

This is awful!

No more chicken pesto wraps from cafe fresca!!

Well at least kylmore might bring back coke!

Eh, no. Non-Britvic products are banned on campus.

Oasis_Dublin

Heading into post-grad in September and I've probably bought my lunch all of 5 times in my previous three years in UCD. The food is all crap and over-priced, so it's a moot point to say there will be less choice now.

Hopefully the price comes down, even though I can't see how that will happen in a monopoly.

Raphael

It's not a full monopoly though - Café Brava, the Grind, the Restaurant, the Sports Café and the Student Bar will all be staying as they are. So that should keep Kylemore honest.

Also, there may be something in the contract about not extorting money out of us poor students. Maybe. A man can dream, can't he?