The council look for companies for management of the cafeterias of two of its associated entities, the Auditorium and the Fairgrounds. In the first case, two companies specializing in food and catering services, the local López Echeto and the foreign Aramark, opted for the tender, after the deadline for submitting offers on January 9. In the Center for Fairs and Congresses, the award was vacated in mid-December and the legal services of the insular corporation are studying the option of re-tendering the contract as a negotiated without publicity.
The companies dedicated to this segment suffered a harsh crisis as a consequence of the pandemic of Covid-19. In the cases in which the service is now required, Auditorium and Fairground, the alternative to provide it during the past year was either to have freelancers or companies in a timely manner based on organized events.
The company that ran the Auditorium cafeteria, Mascatering, now extinguished, stopped providing the service in February 2022. It was closed until May and from then on López Echeto took over during the events.
The announcement published on December 7 in the Contractor’s Profile of the Cabildo opened the term for the operation of cafeteria, restaurant and catering of the Auditorium of Tenerife. The estimated value of the contract is surprising, 2.1 million euros for three years at a rate of 700,000 per annuity (749,000 with tax). But that is not the concession fee.
«It does not even reach the tenth part»
“Not much less, it does not reach a tenth part, that would be totally unfeasible.” This is stated by Eduardo López Echeto, spokesman for the firm of the same name, a classic among companies in the sector on the Island. And he explains: “That amount is the billing calculation it does Audience. It includes everything, also staff salaries, social security or the required guarantee of 5% of the total. He did not want to determine amounts because “after analyzing the technical offer, right now the economic envelopes are unopened.”
In the tender announcement the amount of 700,000 euros per year appears as the estimated value of the contract. It is not the competition fee, but the calculation of the factyration made by the Auditorium
Eduardo López Echeto explains that “in these months we have opened from Tuesday to Sunday, but always according to the calendar of events.” For this reason, he adds, “we have not been able to offer brunch service (joined breakfast and lunch) that worked very well – thanks in large part to the extraordinary views that can be enjoyed – and we hope to be able to recover. In addition to opening every day. If we win the concession, of course.”
Aramark, a global food service company with offices in Spain in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, also entered the contest. It has 270,000 employees and its specialty is catering to groups such as schools or other types of centers.
The specifications contemplate conditions such as the need for a Minimum of eight employees for a total of approximately 1,600 attendees at an event. Specifies the document as a guideline that it is expected to hold 150 concerts a year with a large influx of public. In this sense, the subrogation of the six workers is determined: a cook, a room manager and four waiters.
‘Desert’ at the Fairground
In it Fairgrounds, the canon was 144,000 euros for two years and another two extendable. No company showed up – the deadline expired on December 12 – and now the option of the negotiated figure without publicity is being considered. During the last year, as in the Auditorium, the service has been offered on time according to the organized act. For example, in the Parque Infantil de Tenerife (PIT) the main cafeteria, on the top floor, was managed by a freelancer and the area near the ice rink, precisely López Echeto.
The canon for the award of the fairground cafeteria was 144,000 euros and had been lowered compared to the initial one. However, once the term expired, it was deserted
His representative stresses: “There was a minimum bid of 3,000 euros per month, a very important amount”. Another factor slows down the offers: “It is mandatory to have the cafeteria open, even if the premises are closed to the public, from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon for employees.” In addition, these would have a 30% discount.
It is not being easy to recover the pulse of the restaurant spaces in places as emblematic as the Auditorium and the Fairgrounds. They are essential when offering activities.
