Caterer Cirfood gets “downgraded”, but remains involved in UvA catering
Main caterer Cirfood will remain involved in catering on the UvA campus after its current contract expires. The company will take on a different, more limited role as the university’s management partner, including supporting new local businesses and monitoring the quality of the catering on offer.
There needs to be more room for local businesses, greater variety in the range of options, and the ability to respond more quickly when needs change. The UvA had enough reasons to move away from the current catering model with a single main caterer. Earlier this year, it therefore decided not to renew the expiring contract with Italian catering giant Cirfood after ten years.
Instead, Facility Services (FS) wanted to bring catering for the university and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) back under its own management. “With this new management model, the lines of communication are shorter, we are closer to the day-to-day operations, and we can respond more quickly to trends with our offering and tailor it to each campus,” Irmgard van Genderen, head of Facility Management at FS, told Folia in January.
Management partner
For the operational implementation of this new model, the university then began looking for a management partner. Following a tendering procedure, Cirfood emerged as the successful candidate once again, this time in a different role. As management partner, Cirfood will be responsible for the quality and coherence of the overall offering, as well as supporting the various catering partners and businesses at the university.
Liesbeth Nijhuis, Cirfood’s district manager for the UvA and HvA, had previously hinted to Folia at a possible future for Cirfood in a different role: “We do expect there to be potential challenges, given that the UvA/HvA is a complicated partner even for us. Where possible, we will continue to support the UvA and HvA with advice and assistance, even after January 1, 2027, should we be given the opportunity.”
New businesses
Cirfood’s departure as the main caterer will create room for new businesses. The number of local businesses will double, as Cirfood currently accounts for more than half of the catering. According to the university, the tendering process is nearly complete. It will be announced in October which businesses will be able to start operating where. They will receive a so-called one-year concession agreement, with the option to extend it. This agreement gives the business the right to operate at a specific UvA or HvA location, while the company itself remains responsible for its own revenue.
With the new management model, the university aims to create a mix of different providers and concepts: espresso bars, food trucks, cafés, food courts serving hot meals, as well as vending machines offering fresh products. The food court in the H building on the Roeterseiland Campus and the fresh vending machine in the University Library are examples of what this could look like.
Ordering and payment should also become easier. The plan is to use a digital platform, an app and information screens to show the available options and their availability. Smart checkouts will also be installed in several locations.
