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

electrictrad

havinamare wrote: »

Did we expect Kylemore to be better/cheaper or to care? They're on campus to make money - end of story. UCD needs more money and will do almost anything to get it - simple. With britfic and now Kylemore, we can expect more deals like soon and all we students will do is roll over and have our tummys tickled. Kylemore will make more money, UCD will make more money and who is going to have to pay them all this money?

Kylemore have bought a contract, UCD has it's money. . . if Kylemore is too expensive or poor, it will lose customers to SU Shop/Centra ect., and lose money or pull out. . .the people who pay over the odds for less are those who keep places like Kylemore in business. . .

Just saying

HavingCrack

electrictrad wrote: »

Kylemore have bought a contract, UCD has it's money. . . if Kylemore is too expensive or poor, it will lose customers to SU Shop/Centra ect., and lose money or pull out. . .the people who pay over the odds for less are those who keep places like Kylemore in business. . .

Just saying

From what I can see it definately is happening, the lines in Centra and the SU shop's are definately bigger than they used to be. Those Kylemore shops are charging nearly double city centre prices in a univeristy full of students, typically not flush with cash to be honest. I reckon they might have to lwoer prices drastically soon.

parker kent

HavingCrack wrote: »

From what I can see it definately is happening, the lines in Centra and the SU shop's are definately bigger than they used to be. Those Kylemore shops are charging nearly double city centre prices in a univeristy full of students, typically not flush with cash to be honest. I reckon they might have to lwoer prices drastically soon.

Probably doesn't help that the food is a bit woeful too. Why pay double when you can get better for less? The Copper Kettle rolls are the best pre-packed sandwiches I have tasted and they are excellently priced.

CramCycle

parker kent wrote: »

Some of the other Cafe Fresca/O'briens staff are elsewhere on campus. I have spotted a few familiar faces in unusual places.

Glad they still have their jobs in that case, I always found them very nice in there.

A bit awful that the rest of the staff didn't really show any concern if you were shaking etc. Maybe they didn't understand what was happening or were unsure how to react. Hopefully the donuts sorted you out!

She didn't know what was happening but reacted well and it's always nice to have someone like that around. I realise it was my own fault for getting into that shape. Those who don't know what a severe hypo looks like would usually assume epilepsy as that is normally what it looks like, either way, I wouldn't expect to be ignored.

Happened once before in that building a few years ago and thankfully the day manager (The blonde lady) gave me a bottle of lucozade, I was shaking as I tried to pay and she asked was I alright, when I stuttered Diabetic she ran around, sat me down and refused my money and then came back asking did I need anything else every few minutes. I paid when I came back in the next day as I don't like feeling like I used my Diabetes to get something and she finally relented. This is one of the reasons I liked Fresca, great staff. Admittedly I thought they were over priced but now that I have seen the prices of Pulse they seem quite reasonable in retrospect.

parker kent wrote: »

Probably doesn't help that the food is a bit woeful too. Why pay double when you can get better for less? The Copper Kettle rolls are the best pre-packed sandwiches I have tasted and they are excellently priced.

The CK rolls have definitely improved year on year, as well as being below half price in the library SU in the evenings to clear stock.

Raphael

CramCycle wrote: »

The CK rolls have definitely improved year on year, as well as being below half price in the library SU in the evenings to clear stock.

They've brought that back? Sweeeet. For a while they were just putting them half price the next morning, I know where I'm going next time I'm stuck in college late.

CramCycle

Raphael wrote: »

They've brought that back? Sweeeet. For a while they were just putting them half price the next morning, I know where I'm going next time I'm stuck in college late.

I got one about two weeks ago in the evening anyway, couldn't say if its permenant or not. There was a lot of sandwiches that day so it may be a stock dependent thing.

Raphael

I know there was a point where they just weren't doing it (because I asked at about 7 and was told no), so anything's better than nothing!

gubbie

I would like to publicly state that I am REALLY going to miss the Grind. I have been out of UCD over 2 years now but I still go back to just eat their delicious sandwiches.

For the record, I then started in UCC who have Kylemore and the food is amazing in comparison. €3 sandwiches, €4 for a spag bol (or whatever the deal of the day is) soup and breadroll. €2 for coffee and a scone. And down in Cork they're all like "It's such a rip off". It makes me as annoyed as "UCD doesn't have enough parking spaces"

For anyone saying things will be more expensive in Dublin because it's Dublin, I'm sorry but I don't buy it. UCC is 10 minutes walk from the city centre. UCD is suburbs and since they own the land, should be able to give a cheap enough rent which would allow food outlets to provide cheaper food. Even if they do need to pay staff more, charging everyone €1 extra per sandwich doesn't add up.

suzie987

Was in Pulse today for a coffee break. I must give credit where credit was due, I was served by a very polite man who I think may be the manager. Service was very quick despite it being busy. Much better than Starbucks anyway . . .

I only got coffee but had a good gawk at the food. It all looked great - except the prices!!! Sandwiches START at €4.50 . . . I won't be getting lunch there anyway.

Raphael

gubbie wrote: »

I would like to publicly state that I am REALLY going to miss the Grind. I have been out of UCD over 2 years now but I still go back to just eat their delicious sandwiches.

I'm not. Mainly because it's not going anywhere.

=p

Michael Butler

Have been in Starbucks Conway several times since the re opening and also Pulse since last week, have to say far more impressed with service in Conway than Pulse (actual genuine service). And what genius came up with the name of Pulse for a coffee shop?

WeeBushy

Michael Butler wrote: »

And what genius came up with the name of Pulse for a coffee shop?

Every time I see it I think of the UCD security company.

jan shyr

Does anyone else find Conway place to be extremely slow? Like people who work there enjoy keeping customers waiting while just standing there doing nothing.
After a couple times of this happening to me, I took my bussiness to students shops and brava.

gubbie

Raphael wrote: »

I'm not. Mainly because it's not going anywhere.

=p

PRAISE THE LORD

I'll be back up to Dublin sometime soon so

kateling

Does anyone know the opening hours for the new cafes in Richview, Conway or Health Sciences? I was trying to go for coffee at 5pm on a Friday and both the Health Sciences cafe (Pulse?) and Brava were closed already so I had to head up to the SU shop under the library. Does nowhere else bar the restaurant stay open after five on a Friday? The UCD website doesn't appear to be updated with details for any Kylemore outlets, even those that are open.

LD8

Can anyone explain the difference in prices between the Kylemore owned cafes?? Why is a leek and potato soup more expensive in Readers than in Pulse or in the Arts (whatever it's called now) cafe?
Sandwiches, coffee, etc... if they're all the same so why?????

Mycroft H

I now bring my own sandwiches and we have a toaster and kettle in out lab. Sorted

But yea the price of pulse is silly. 4.50 for a sandwich?

On the other hand the 4 euro copper kettle/can/crisps deal is actually good value compared to everywhere else

bnt

Well, Kylemore have reported their annual results: profit of about €3/4 million, thanks to lucrative contracts at St. Vincent's Hospital, the European Commission, Microsoft, and (of course) UCD. This is in contrast to the previous year, when they made a loss because they had to write down assets. Good to know that UCD students and staff are playing their part in bolstering the Irish economy, eh?

havinamare

Of course Vilemore made most of this profit by laying off most of the old staff of the restaurants they took over. Whatever profit ucd might make from this deal and i don't think they made any at all, it is wiped out by the social welfare costs of all these loyoffs - bad deal all round!!

Tayto2000

havinamare wrote: »

Of course Vilemore made most of this profit by laying off most of the old staff of the restaurants they took over. Whatever profit ucd might make from this deal and i don't think they made any at all, it is wiped out by the social welfare costs of all these loyoffs - bad deal all round!!

Not true this time, staff were given the choice to stay, although a lot of them got shuffled about. 3-4m in profit wouldn't come from relatively low waged staff lay offs, it's operating profit. They're got a virtual monopoly on these sites and their prices aren't exactly super low.

bnt

Tayto2000 wrote: »

3-4m in profit ...

By 3/4 I meant about three-quarters (¾), not three-to-four. The actual profit figure was €731,000.

Any business has a right and a duty to make money, and I don't object to that - but there needs to be competition, so that prices are kept under control. To be fair, Kylemore don't have a complete monopoly at UCD, since the SU shops are competition. I would be angrier about this if I couldn't get my regular €1.25 cappuccino. :rolleyes:

havinamare

The cost of wages is the second highest cost in the catering business. How many staff were operating each restaurant over the Xmas break - 2. How many staff will be let go over the summer ? You are seriously deluded if you believe all those staff left of their own accord.

havinamare

bnt wrote: »

By 3/4 I meant about three-quarters (¾), not three-to-four. The actual profit figure was €731,000.

Any business has a right and a duty to make money, and I don't object to that - but there needs to be competition, so that prices are kept under control. To be fair, Kylemore don't have a complete monopoly at UCD, since the SU shops are competition. I would be angrier about this if I couldn't get my regular €1.25 cappuccino. :rolleyes:

The Su shops were tendered for recently so your €1.25 cappuccino might be a thing of the past. If that happens, centra are selling any coffee and a bronkie(?) For €2. The main restaurant is also going to tender - will kylemore get one and Campbell catering get the other ? Either way, us students will have less choice. We need competition on campus because ,by population comparison, UCD campus is about the size of Kilkenny city. Imagine not being able to buy a coke in Kilkenny ! Wait til UCD does a deal for snacks, soon we'll be able to only get cadbury or mars or nestle.

Raphael

havinamare wrote: »

The Su shops were tendered for recently so your €1.25 cappuccino might be a thing of the past. If that happens, centra are selling any coffee and a bronkie(?) For €2. The main restaurant is also going to tender - will kylemore get one and Campbell catering get the other ? Either way, us students will have less choice. We need competition on campus because ,by population comparison, UCD campus is about the size of Kilkenny city. Imagine not being able to buy a coke in Kilkenny ! Wait til UCD does a deal for snacks, soon we'll be able to only get cadbury or mars or nestle.

Great, the Britvic deal nets UCD money, as does the Kylemore deal (afaik). UCD needs money to be a university, and exclusivity deals are a good way to do it. If UCD ever stopped selling something I needed on campus, I'd buy a box of it offcampus and stick it at my desk - or just stop at a shop on the way in. Much better that they save money that way than by stopping the library buying books, or firing lecturers.


Now if only they could spend the money they save better.

WoollyRedHat

Anybody know where to find a microwave or kettle in the Newman building to use for lunch? Tesco finest and pot noodles all the way.

havinamare

Raphael wrote: »

Great, the Britvic deal nets UCD money, as does the Kylemore deal (afaik). UCD needs money to be a university, and exclusivity deals are a good way to do it. If UCD ever stopped selling something I needed on campus, I'd buy a box of it offcampus and stick it at my desk - or just stop at a shop on the way in. Much better that they save money that way than by stopping the library buying books, or firing lecturers.


Now if only they could spend the money they save better.

You seem happy to let UCD do any deal as long as they get the money in and as long as you're not affected by it in any way -that seems a little selfish and egocentric to me. They are not spending that money on your education - it's going on their wages and salaries. The gov is taking them to court for overspending €6m on salaries and UCD refused to repay it. UCD will not listen to the gov who have no option but to take them to court and the tax payer pays the bill as always.
I really think you should re-evaluate your priorities

L

havinamare wrote: »

You seem happy to let UCD do any deal as long as they get the money in and as long as you're not affected by it in any way -that seems a little selfish and egocentric to me. They are not spending that money on your education - it's going on their wages and salaries. The gov is taking them to court for overspending €6m on salaries and UCD refused to repay it. UCD will not listen to the gov who have no option but to take them to court and the tax payer pays the bill as always.
I really think you should re-evaluate your priorities

I really think you need to read the last line of his post again and re-evaluate what he's actually saying rather than what you think he's saying.

I don't agree with Raph on this one, but he's not being egocentric about it - he's of the opinion that he'll cope with a little less choice if it means we don't have to fire lecturers or cut funding further. It's also worth noting that as he's a research postgrad, that lack of choice affects him for the large chunk of the year when undergrads aren't around.

havinamare

L wrote: »

I really think you need to read the last line of his post again and re-evaluate what he's actually saying rather than what you think he's saying.

I don't agree with Raph on this one, but he's not being egocentric about it - he's of the opinion that he'll cope with a little less choice if it means we don't have to fire lecturers or cut funding further. It's also worth noting that as he's a research postgrad, that lack of choice affects him for the large chunk of the year when undergrads aren't around.

"If only they would spend the money they are saving better"
Clearly their intention is to not spend money but as it reads "to save money". So they intend to save their way to a better education system - I wish them luck.

Tayto2000

bnt wrote: »

By 3/4 I meant about three-quarters (¾), not three-to-four. The actual profit figure was €731,000.

Any business has a right and a duty to make money, and I don't object to that - but there needs to be competition, so that prices are kept under control. To be fair, Kylemore don't have a complete monopoly at UCD, since the SU shops are competition. I would be angrier about this if I couldn't get my regular €1.25 cappuccino. :rolleyes:

Ah, oops. Just read the article, they expanded and took on extra staff last year? I've spoken to some of the staff in HS and arts, everyone I talked to had the choice of staying on campus but they did get moved around a lot. That amount couldn't be generated by laying off a few in house staff here.

UCD presidents have been banging the drum about exchequer funding for years now, it actually declined per capita during the boom, so good luck getting any change in funding now. The commercial operations are a major part of the funding plans for the future, I'd expect to see them expand if anything.

"They are not spending that money on your education - it's going on their wages and salaries."

Is money spent paying lecturers staff who run the college not by definition being spent on your education?

havinamare

Tayto2000 wrote: »

Ah, oops. Just read the article, they expanded and took on extra staff last year? I've spoken to some of the staff in HS and arts, everyone I talked to had the choice of staying on campus but they did get moved around a lot. That amount couldn't be generated by laying off a few in house staff here.

UCD presidents have been banging the drum about exchequer funding for years now, it actually declined per capita during the boom, so good luck getting any change in funding now. The commercial operations are a major part of the funding plans for the future, I'd expect to see them expand if anything.

"They are not spending that money on your education - it's going on their wages and salaries."

Is money spent paying lecturers staff who run the college not by definition being spent on your education?

Kylemore recorded an increase in staff due to new contracts such as ucd,microsoft, st vincents etc. The number of staff in UCD has been cut dramatically since kylemore took over. When any company takes over another company, which is in effect what has happened here, that company immediately looks to make savings and as always the first place they look is staff costs. Given you know hs, how many of the old staff are still left? - none. How many in the library cafe - none.
You don't understand how education is funded in Ireland. The gov pays the salaries through budgets. UCD grossly overspent that budget and have made cutbacks in an effort to reduce the deficit. By selling off all the catering on campus, they are freeing themselves from a huge expense in terms of wage and pension committments. The downside of this policy falls on students and UCD staff by way of poorer quality food, higher cost food and constantly changing catering staff.
UCD policy will bring in a flood of wealthy foreign fee paying students resulting in fewer places available for the cheaper courses like arts and business.
There is more to come and UCD will become an increasingly unpleasant place to be.