Hungry ferry riders have hope because 27 companies have said they would like to feed the passengers who ride on the state system’s 500 daily trips.
Ferries have been without food service since the start of the year, when Sodexho USA, saying it was losing money, stopped serving hamburgers, fries and other food on the state’s ferries. Since then, all riders have had to fill up on what they can find in vending machines.
The Washington State Ferries proposal to move from having one vendor provide the same level of food service on every ferry to individualized food service that matches the need of a particular ferry run seems to be catching on with potential vendors.
Twenty-seven companies – including Sodexho USA – filed letters in time to meet a Tuesday deadline, an indication that they want to either provide food service on ferries or at ferry terminals across the Puget Sound region.
Applications indicating how the companies would provide such services are due Feb. 10. The ferry system hopes to get a new vendor or group of vendors in place by early April.
“We are excited that so many food vendors are interested in these contracts,” said Brian Volkert, business development manager for the ferry system. “The number and mix of interested vendors is exciting and should help us achieve our goal of providing a whole new approach to food and beverage services throughout the ferry system.”
Eleven companies said they would like to provide food service on the ferries, while 18 – a couple want to do both – said they would like to feed people at some of the ferry terminals.
The ferry system received no bids in the fall, when it asked for a vendor to take over the entire food service contract for the ferries.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com
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