The number of food service companies that could serve food — everything from munchies to full meals — to ferry passengers has been winnowed to six, including two local companies.
Summit Vending Inc. of Everett and CDX Corp. of Mukilteo are among those that could be selected to provide some combination of hot food, sandwiches, snacks and drinks on 10 Puget Sound ferry routes.
"Our whole concept behind this was the best of the Northwest," said Nickolas Streeter, customer service manager for Summit Vending.
Summit Vending would hire independent contractors to provide food service on the ferry system’s 10 runs across the Sound, including the Mukilteo-Clinton and the Edmonds-Kingston runs.
Each owner would be able to run its own kitchen but it would be required to buy its food from Summit Vending.
"We want less of an assembly-line feel," he said. "We think we would have a bit more of a personal touch because it would be operated by an owner-operator."
It’s that kind of creativity that has ferry system managers optimistic that they will end up with food service choices ferry riders will like.
"These people have come up with some really neat ideas," said Brian Volkert, business development manager for the ferry system. "We have some really exciting, innovative proposals."
Summit Vending, which has about 1,000 vending machines in the Puget Sound region, said it would use local food products to promote the economy and serve riders food they are familiar with.
CDX Corp. of Mukilteo could not be reached for comment.
Washington State Ferries has been without food service since the start of the year, when Sodexho USA walked away from a contract that it said was no longer profitable.
After Sodexho left and no company accepted an invitation to take over its contract, potential concessionaires were asked to submit proposals on how they would feed passengers. Twelve companies submitted proposals in response to the state’s request.
The list of six was announced on Monday. The state will make a decision on which company or companies will get the contract in about two weeks.
The winner or winners will have to work with the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, which represents the 140 food-service workers who were laid off when Sodexho left.
The company stepped away from its contract for a number of reasons, spokeswoman Leslie Aun said, but is one of the six finalists for the new contract.
Key among its reasons for getting out was a requirement that the concessionaire provide the same level of food service on all ferry routes, even the ones with lower traffic volumes.
"What’s different this time around is there is some more flexibility," Aun said.
She declined to get into specifics about what service Sodexho has offered to provide until a decision is made.
The other three finalists are BH&U of Port Townsend; Cascade Concessions Services of Vancouver, Wash.; and Sound Food Cafe, Bakery and Wine Bar of Vashon.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.
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