DIDSBURY – The concession at the Didsbury Memorial Complex will be privately run for the upcoming 2019-20 season, pending town approval.
Town councillors passed a motion at the July 9 council meeting calling on administration to issue a request for proposals for operation of the concession, which has been run by the town since 2013.
“Due to rising food costs, fuel costs for delivery and increased minimum wage legislation, the Town of Didsbury has realized a financial loss for the past several seasons,” administration said in a briefing note to council. “As a result, administration is proposing a new model for operation of this essential service within the complex.
"Administration is suggesting rather than operating the concession as a part of the Town of Didsbury Community Service Department, council consider leasing out the kitchen space to a third-party contractor.”
That contractor would pay a monthly lease payment to the town to cover costs for utilities, maintenances and use of the town’s owned equipment, council heard.
“All costs associated with the operation of the service would be the responsibility of the contractor. These costs would include staffing, food and beverage inventory costs and any other costs associated with it. All revenues generated by the concession would then belong to the contractor.”
Administration said there would be several benefits with the new arrangement, including “significant reduction in costs associated with the service, eliminate the risk of financial loss, reduced management, supervision and planning on town staff, and the creation of an opportunity for a local contractor."
Administration also identified a number of potential risks, including “reduced control over customer service, food quality and general management of the concession” and “loss of concession available to patrons if the new model proves unsuccessful.”
