When food options pop into the minds of Nicholls students, faculty and staff members, one company can smile from the knowledge that it is the prevailing catering service to all on-campus events and daily dining.
Sodexho, Nicholls’ official catering service, accommodates all Union, cafeteria and campus event dining. With all departments and student organizations required to use Sodexho’s catering services for all on campus events, some are wondering whether this practice is a monopoly.
According to http://dictionary.com, a monopoly is defined as “exclusive control by one group of the means of producing or selling a commodity or service; a group or company having exclusive control over a commercial activity.”
“I don’t consider Sodexho a monopoly,” Brenda Haskins, director of auxiliary services, said. “It’s part of their contract with the University.”
Haskins says that this practice is a University policy, not one implemented by Sodexho. According to Haskins, the policy is set strictly for liability reasons. Nicholls is liable for all functions held on campus; therefore, the University requires that the food service contractor have sufficient liability insurance in case it is ever needed.
“It’s a University policy,” Haskins said, “and it’s based on the fact that if something happens on campus, the University is liable. If we should ever get involved in a lawsuit and it’s a department or student event, we assume some liability with that.”
A second point that Haskins said contributes to the lone University catering company is the reduction of prices on meal plans on campus.
“If you give somebody all the business, then they’ll come here giving you competitive prices,” Haskins said. “It keeps our meal plans at a reasonable rate for our students.”
According to Paul Beier, general manager of Sodexho, the Sodexho catering company operates as a sole entity on campus for a supply and demand purpose.
“Sodexho makes money operating here,” Beier said, “but the University also makes money by us operating here. The way the contract is constructed, it’s a win, win situation for everyone.”
Sodexho pays rent to the University to operate and also commission fees. Beier says that the University thinks that if Sodexho is the only food service provider, revenues are going to be greater.
“Every dollar spent with Sodexho is a dollar spent with the University,” Beier said.
The contract between Sodexho and the University lasts for a ten-year period. The contract was re-signed last year, leaving the remaining contract effective for nine years.
Contrary to the restricted Sodexho catering rule, individuals that rent the ballroom facility for personal reasons are allowed to use a separate catering service, as long as proof of insurance is shown.
“If people do feel like this is restricting, or that they’re not getting the quality service, that’s what this office does, and they should feel free to contact me, and I can assist them,” Haskins said.