Yes, Monique Kuyck certainly finds it regrettable that she has to start yet another tendering procedure, following a search of almost a year after which VITAM finally emerged as the winner, for a caterer in collaboration with the Procurement department so soon. That procedure, incidentally, started this week already.

According to Kuyck, it takes a new caterer about a year to get used to a new organization, as she already told Cursor in April of this year. “That really applies to every caterer, including VITAM,” Kuyck says. That is why TU/e and VITAM constantly discuss the operating costs and, since recently, the continuation of their collaboration. “As far as the issue of adjustments is concerned, everyone will have noticed that VITAM started with a number of new initiatives after the summer holiday, such as the lunch deal for three euro’s in the Auditorium and the addition of pizzas to the menu of Grillz.”

Not worried

Nevertheless, it has been decided that the contract, which was due to expire in 2023 with an option for another five years, will be terminated as of 6 July 2020. “After intensive consultation between both parties,” Kuyck emphasizes. “Clearly, we chose that date for strategic reasons, because there won’t be any exams as of that day, which means that campus will be much quieter, and that gives the new caterer enough time to get installed.”

Kucyk is not worried about the new tendering procedure. “We can make use of the same documents as in 2018, even though they need to be adjusted in some places, because Traverse, the Laplace building and the Paviljoen don’t need catering any more, for example. The fact that these adjustments also include pricing won’t come as a surprise to anyone.”

She expects that the entire process will take about five to six months and hopes to present a new caterer somewhere in April. “That will the new caterer a few months to make preparations and to start talks with the present personnel.”