Costly Cookeing: Issy says caterers’ overpriced food could be “breaking their contract”
City’s caterers may be breaking their contract by pricing their food too high, Students’ Union president-elect Issy Cooke has suggested.
Prices were agreed when Sodexo struck a deal with the university last year, Issy told The Square – but food outlets on campus are “too expensive for students”.
She said: “What was agreed with Sodexo was that [the pricing] would be comparable to local food outlets.
“We need to prove what’s on offer at the moment isn’t comparable to the local stuff – I think that’s literally going round, buying things and taking pictures.”
Issy, whose Vice-President for Education manifesto mentioned a campaign for “quality university food outlets”, added that students should pay no more than £5 for a meal.
The Union disagreed with the current prices, she said, but “there were a lot of people in that meeting, a lot of people making the decision”.
As president, she may be part of a stakeholder group responsible for ensuring “that Sodexo maintain their contracts, maintain the things that they agreed to”.
She is not sure when CityBar, which opened in November, will start serving food, blaming “standard building work and getting into the kitchen”.
Could this article be written again in English?
If it’s cheaper elsewhere (it’s certainly better), then go elsewhere. Vote with your feet (and stomach) and support local business.
Backed by the Union, a campaign to promote decent local, small businesses will put pressure on Sodexo to improve. Danny’s hut, the sandwich stand in the costcutter, Exmouth Market, all providing affordable food in the local area.
Better yet, cook it yourself.