Quality And Service Two Factors In Selecting New Food/Beverage Operator For Mosaic Place
Complaints about the quality of the concessions at Mosaic Place may, if all things go to plan, soon be a thing of the past as a new food and beverage provider to the venue has been selected.
On Monday evening Council voted unanimously to accept the proposal from Spectra Venue Management Limited to provide food and beverage services to Mosaic Place.
The contract will see Spectra provide food and beverage services to Mosaic Place from July 1, 2021 to September 2024 with an option for a five year extension.
Spectra already manages the facility and will replace the Compass Group who have provided food and beverage services at the facility since its opening.
The Compass Group submitted the unsuccessful second proposal.
“We wanted to have a tremendous level of experiences we could have with people,” city manager Jim Puffalt said.
Puffalt along with Parks and Recreation Derek Blais and Moose Jaw Cultural Centre manager Derek Cronan served on the committee that reviewed the Request For Proposals submitted. All three have management experience in providing food and beverage services at event centres.
Puffalt said awarding the RFP to Spectra had advantages over top of the Proposal by the Compass Group who have been providing food and beverage service to Mosaic Place since its opening.
He said that “going in-house” and selecting Spectra as the food and beverage provider had many advantages the RFP was looking for.
“(It brings) greater control of quality and greater control of changes in the facility,” he said, adding that by allowing Spectra (who manage Mosaic Place for the City) to be awarded the contract would make the food and beverage part of the facility more responsive to the needs of patrons.
Puffalt said Spectra’s bid would help ensure the food and beverage facilities in the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre would be available.
The two RFP’s submitted envisioned two different directions for food and beverages at Mosaic Place.
The two submissions were:
1. Compass Groups – Contracted out – Commission Basis
Commission Generated - $1,079,751, Property Taxes - $129,300,
Capital Contribution over the term plus five year extension - $289,600
2. Spectra Venue Management – in-house – full profits to the venue
Profit Generated - $1,148,407,
Capital Contribution over term plus five year extension - $250,000
The in-house Spectra bid saw profits returning to the facility while the Compass Group was seeking an 18 percent commission arrangement.
“It really sounds good to have new food and beverage (providers) when Mosaic Place re-opens,” Councillor Heather Eby said. “It has been a sore point for people for quite a long time.”
Through a good portion of the past year Mosaic Place has been closed or had restricted access due to Provincial restrictions enacted to help stop the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID – 19.
As background it should be noted Councillor Eby served on the initial management board for Mosaic Place and the Field House when it was rocked by a major financial scandal causing the entire board to be dismissed.
She asked about the ability of local vendors being able to sell food and beverages within the facility as part of the proposed deal.
“It’s more than just burgers at the Civic Centre like what we used to have.”
Puffalt said going in-house with Spectra would allow the facility to be more responsive to local food and drink vendors mentioning it would make it easier for local craft beer to be sold.
“Local quality control is right here in the facility and we don’t have to go elsewhere,” he said.
A new innovation being looked at is delivery right to a patron’s seat.
“You can order right from your seat and have it delivered.”
“I think it is time for a change for sure,” Councillor Crystal Froese said about the deal.
As background it should be noted Councillor Froese is a former board member of the now defunct Downtown Facility and Field House (DFFH) – which operated Mosaic Place - during an alleged sexual harassment scandal.
Froese asked about the $129,000 in property taxes the Compass Group had to pay and if Spectra would have to pay a similar tax bill.
Puffalt said he believed the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency, who provide assessment services to the City, would view Spectra as different because they are already operating the facility and drawing upon the expertise of their head office.
Councillor Doug Blanc saw the deal as an improvement over top of what the Compass Group had been providing.
“I think it is wonderful we are going to have better food and beverage,” Councillor Blanc said.
Mayor Fraser Tolmie re-iterated the belief the food and beverage services would improve.
“Our clientele will get better service…I think this will be best for the clients of Moose Jaw,” Mayor Tolmie said.
As background it should be noted Mayor Tolmie while serving as a councillor was a member of the initial management board for Mosaic Place and the Yara Centre when the Compass Group was selected to provide food and beverage services to the facilities.
As part of the decision to select Spectra the selection committee felt that the bid allowed a better opportunity to tap into the lucrative meeting, banquet and wedding market.