LACKMANN (SCHOOL'S LUNCH COMPANY) WANTS TO NEGOTIATE

By Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer

Over the last couple of years, Student Government Associations (SGA) on all three campuses have voiced their concern over the quality and pricing of food in the campus cafeterias. SGA members on South Campus were advised not to even bring up the matter at their Student Forum in February. The issue was raised again in March at the Student Forum on North but, if history repeats itself (as the old saying goes) not much will happen.

Lackmann Culinary Services (Lackmann), based in Woodbury, N.Y. (on Long Island) has held the contract to provide to Broward Community College (BCC), now Broward College (BC), since Dec. 17, 2004. That contract is due to expire on Dec. 17, 2009 however it does have a provision in it for an automatic three-year renewal if requested by the college.

According to Bill Pennell, BC Chief Financial Officer, the food service provider preceding Lackmann was Sodexo, a French multi-national corporation and food service provider to over 600 campuses in the U.S. and Canada. Pennell said that when BCC released RFP 805-002, Food Service – College-wide, in November 2004 to secure proposals from firms interested in providing cafeteria service, catering and vending for the college, Lackmann was the lone company to respond.

Pennell said that when Sodexo was managing the food service it was costing the college over $200,000 per year. According to a letter dated Nov. 19, 2004, Lackmann’s financial agreement with the college allowed for a flat $28,000 commission in the first year; $28,000 commission or 18 percent of sales (whichever is greater), plus a 1.5 percent utilities charge in year two; and $28,000 commission or 18 percent of sales (whichever is greater) plus a 3 percent utilities charge in years three through five.

The letter also stated that Lackmann would invest $100,000 into the dining services at BCC and it was signed by Andrew W. Lackmann, Vice President – Development and Marketing. Pennell said that his office monitors Lackmann’s performance with regard to contractual obligations and indicated Lackmann has completed $70,000 of improvements to date.


Kathy Reese, an administrative assistant at Lackmann’s corporate headquarters referred all questions to their regional operations manager. Ed Godziszewski (“everybody calls me Eddie G”) called back to answer any questions. He said the company has enjoyed the partnership it has had with the college over the last four-plus years and looks forward to renewing that affiliation.

The contract makes mention of a food service committee and when asked if one existed Eddie G responded that he has made some requests from his side to get one going but nobody has wanted to participate. “There is not one on-going that I know of,” he said. He also said he was not aware that SGA had raised concerns about pricing and quality at the Student Forums.

“It’s really strange that they have these forums and then they don’t get back to me. How can I deal with the issues if I don’t know about them?” he asked.

According to Pennell, each campus, through Student Affairs, is supposed to have a committee to review customer service aspects of Lackmann’s performance. “I’m aware of initial meetings when I first got involved several years ago, but I believe there have been few, if any, meetings recently,” Pennell wrote in response to a question in an e-mail. Pennell added that in the past feedback has been provided to Lackmann where certain improvements can be made and they have adjusted menus to try to address student/customer concerns.

According to Eddie G, the predominant complaint on all of the college campuses, not just BC, is food pricing. “In the 35 years that I have been in the college food service business, that’s number one,” he said. He went on to explain that the company only operates on the campuses for approximately 30 weeks but they have to maintain their staff year round. “It’s just tough making ends meet,” he said. “There’s a lot of completion out there. Students bringing their own lunch…fast food chains located close to the campuses…it all adds up,” he lamented.

Eddie G also said it was a real test for his company when the college switched to block scheduling. “Business on Fridays is off 47 percent,” he exclaimed. “North Campus has been a challenge for us over the years as well, but now we have the right people (working) there.”

Lackmann provides food service for numerous colleges such as Hofstra University, Pace, St. John Fisher, Miami-Dade and Adelphi. Broward College SGA’s are not alone in voicing complaints about Lackmann. A Feb. 28, 2008 article in Hofstra’s college newspaper The Chronicle reported that their SGA issued a resolution addressing multiple issues with Lackmann including the fact that multi-cultural clubs were dissatisfied with the authenticity of cultural foods provided by Lackmann.

Student’s palates have changed over the years as well. According to a Feb. 25, 2009 press release from Sodexo, their customer insight experts culled through 20 years of menus in hundreds of cafés served by the company and in keeping with the latest flavor trends, came up with a list of the top 10 foods preferred by college students today, and 20 years ago. (See chart below)

Not everyone complains about Lackmann. Miguel Ramirez, Events Coordinator for BC Public Relations said he is very pleased with the services offered by Lackmann. “I get a lot of compliments regarding the food they serve. I use them 90% of the time when I plan events,” he said. “I think they would be very cooperative in resolving any student complaints.” Ramirez said he sometimes uses other caterers in the Fort Lauderdale area when he needs specialty or ethnic foods. “I think their pricing is reasonable as well,” he added.

Contrary to popular belief, Lackmann does not have exclusive rights, or the right of first refusal to the catering service for college events. For example, at the Student Forum on North Campus in March, Student Life chose Exquisite Catering by Robert to cater the luncheon. Event planners are able to get competitive quotes from local companies and from Lackmann as well.

As mentioned before, the current contract has a provision for an automatic three-year renewal. Eddie G said his company is currently working on a proposal requesting that the contract be extended. Pennell said the college would only do that only if it was in both BC’s and Lackmann’s best interest.

Pennell indicated that, as a rule, the BC Board of Trustees does not like to do that type of thing (contract extensions) so he believes the college may look to do another RFP to assure a solid competitive bid process.

In either case, Eddie G said Lackmann wants to continue providing food service to BC. “We just started hitting the mark as far as profit is concerned.

We will be happy to sit down and re-negotiate if that is what the college wants to do. After four-and-a-half years at Broward College, we know the business real well. We want to stay,” he said.