by Greg Moore
Hell, I'd probably honor the picket line.
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Railroad Forums
Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman
Backshophoss wrote:Mr Anderson is planning to convert the SW Chief to the "Panera Bread" food service style in Nov,that should find a few more Chefs bumping off otherFuck it.. he really does want to drive people away from the trains.
chefs on trains with full style food service,there's been menu changes on the Coast Starlight that didn't go well with the passengers.
There are too many times of "running out of stock" on the LD trains that should not be happening,could Aramark be under orders to NOT fully stock
the diners/food service cars to cut down spoilage problems?
Under the "Panera Bread" model ,there seems to be more wasted food at the trips end,than regular food service style.
Backshophoss wrote:Mr Anderson is planning to convert the SW Chief to the "Panera Bread" food service style in Nov,that should find a few more Chefs bumping off otherI highly doubt it. These contracts usually have the client (Amtrak) paying Aramark a flat fee for provisions. My guess is Aramark probably low bid it. The understocking seems more like a classic supply chain issue with Aramark, they probably can't source enough product cheap enough to be profitable so they chose to tell Amtrak "bummer" instead of taking the loss. There's a reason Amtrak is looking seriously at how to get out from the Aramark contract, it's just not working and the quality of the product is poor.
chefs on trains with full style food service,there's been menu changes on the Coast Starlight that didn't go well with the passengers.
There are too many times of "running out of stock" on the LD trains that should not be happening,could Aramark be under orders to NOT fully stock
the diners/food service cars to cut down spoilage problems?
Under the "Panera Bread" model ,there seems to be more wasted food at the trips end,than regular food service style.
Suburban Station wrote:Amtrak is mandated by Congress to eliminate food service losses.Yes, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat. The free meal boxes just push that line item into the sleeper amenities column and out of the FBS column.
mtuandrew wrote:I had hoped to see more experimentation. Seems to me a chef and an lsa could provide decent short order service with longer hours and self service. That said the requirement means drastic changesSuburban Station wrote:Amtrak is mandated by Congress to eliminate food service losses.Yes, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat. The free meal boxes just push that line item into the sleeper amenities column and out of the FBS column.
Suburban Station wrote:I had hoped to see more experimentation. Seems to me a chef and an lsa could provide decent short order service with longer hours and self service. That said the requirement means drastic changesI had too.
mtuandrew wrote:Food service has lousy margins, lousier when on a moving train with Unionized employees, but prepared beverages like espresso drinks, blended stuff, and alcohol can make up a lot of the difference. Also, microwave-convection ovens are a wonderful labor-saving device that will perfectly heat parcooked/sous vide items like a sandwich, bowl of soup, side of veggies, or even a steak, breast, or chop. Amtrak is overthinking its meal offerings something fierce, and ignoring choices that would be really popular.Food in general typically has descent margins; its "plating" and serving it that drives the margins down.