• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Food & Beverage: The Aramark Era begins

Let's see what happens. It will be curious to see the direction that they take it in and who drives that - Merlin or Aramark.

Higher prices are more likely if they're not targeting or being incentivised to drive volume. It's extremely difficult to do both - but the trailers on the lawns seem to have done pretty well on that front.
 
Rick said:
Let's see what happens. It will be curious to see the direction that they take it in and who drives that - Merlin or Aramark.

Higher prices are more likely if they're not targeting or being incentivised to drive volume. It's extremely difficult to do both - but the trailers on the lawns seem to have done pretty well on that front.
Click to expand...
Aren't those trailers external companies though and not run by Merlin/Aramark?
 
Skyscraper said:
Aren't those trailers external companies though and not run by Merlin/Aramark?
Click to expand...
Yes, they are - that doesn't make it easier for them to charge more though.

Their location and the fact that they are more 'eventy' perhaps does.

It will be interesting to see if use of such vendors changes in light of this contract. Merlin competing against themselves is one thing, but having them compete against an outsourcer would be interesting.
 
Prices rose in Easter 2022 by around 10% from 2021 prices then again by 10% in November 2022 when Aramark took over.

2021 season: Flat White £3.20
Now: £3.85

2021 season: steak at Woodcutters £14.50
Now: £17.05

Both double or near-double inflation.

Re: Eastern Express - I believe this is coming under Aramark next season. Not confirmed by the park though.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
 
I honestly don't buy enough food and drink there to follow it and if I do, I couldn't tell you the cost increase between visits. I would wager that is the case for most visitors.

Not to say that there is anything wrong with above inflation increases on food in a theme park, or anywhere else for that matter. The meal 'deal' I get in a place next to our London office is up over a third in little over a year - but I still think it's ok value so keep purchasing.

I know it's sort of tradition that we predict doom before any change but I do think it's something that we need to wait and see about.

I'm interested to see if we see any additional indoor catering options, whether that be the reopening of TS Grill or new things.

What is the current arrangement for Eastern Express ? I.e. is Aramark an extension of the principle of that ?
 
One possible benefit that occurred to me would be potentially improved F&B outlet opening hours/availability. In recent years Merlin have been operating their F&B outlets in a very cost-averse manner. Maybe a 3rd party that only operates the food outlets would be more interested in increasing revenue by ensuring outlets are actually open?

On the other hand, if costs rise significantly and quality does not improve then it will absolutely push me into bringing my own food into the park.
 
Rick said:
I'm interested to see if we see any additional indoor catering options, whether that be the reopening of TS Grill or new things.

What is the current arrangement for Eastern Express ? I.e. is Aramark an extension of the principle of that ?
Click to expand...
I do get what you mean - I'm holding off making full judgment until next season. That's the first "proper" full season where they have the full portfolio and the opportunity to make changes. They can and do make decent quick service food in other leisure areas like stadiums and convention centres in the US. So whilst the prison service comments are humourus (hell I've made them myself), there is a capability there to make stuff that's presentable and of good quality. I just hope we don't inherit US stadium pricing!

However, I'm so far disappointed that we've seen little change in the southern parks so far aside from the price rises, and from the comments of some visitors the quality appears to have got worse. So I can't say that I'm filled with positivity for the change being a good thing just yet. If all we see is price rises and little to no effort to actually improve the quality and range of the food, then I see little point in them being there from a guest experience point of view.

As for Eastern Express, the outlet is still open as normal in Mutiny Bay for the Christmas event with the usual previous till systems (Aramark replace the card terminals in their outlets). My guess would be that they wouldn't have had the time to do anything with it in the time between Aramark taking over and the event starting. The outlet is already a franchise owned by Thornbury Hall, so I'd assume the equipment couldn't just transfer over and would instead have to be stripped out and a refit completed. There is a possibility that Aramark could sub-contract them to continue (doubtful in my view), or they're sticking around due to an existing contract that's still running. Guess we'll wait and see in March!
 
Last edited:
Rick said:
I honestly don't buy enough food and drink there to follow it and if I do, I couldn't tell you the cost increase between visits. I would wager that is the case for most visitors.

Not to say that there is anything wrong with above inflation increases on food in a theme park, or anywhere else for that matter. The meal 'deal' I get in a place next to our London office is up over a third in little over a year - but I still think it's ok value so keep purchasing.

I know it's sort of tradition that we predict doom before any change but I do think it's something that we need to wait and see about.

I'm interested to see if we see any additional indoor catering options, whether that be the reopening of TS Grill or new things.

What is the current arrangement for Eastern Express ? I.e. is Aramark an extension of the principle of that ?
Click to expand...

I guess some people, like myself, take note of what they are paying for things more than others. But I do think it's important to call these things out as it all adds up to the wider increase in the cost of a day out vs. everyone's income, which I don't think is a good thing as it means we all live less enriched lives. The big question will come next season when prices are set. I am rather hoping the 10% rise last week is literally a knee-jerk reaction to general cost increases. There is no way there is a blanket 10% rise on every product. I am sure it's less on others. and more on others. A hotdog for £7.15 just seems bonkers when you would surely do the psychological-friendly thing and put it to £6.95.

And with regards to predicting doom, sadly the track record of Merlin in recent years has fashioned me into expecting the worst. I guess if we expect the worst, and it doesn't turn out to be the worst... happy days.

If only price increases would lead to a better all-round experience. That would be OK.
 
Tom said:
I'm not saying it's going to be bad for sure, but when Aramark used to run the work canteen, people would throw their chips onto the lawns to keep the birds off the grass.
Click to expand...
As stated earlier in this topic, and also implied in your post, isolated incidents where Aramark's food have not been up to scratch does not mean that their food will be horrible once they take over at Towers.
 
zeock said:
As stated earlier in this topic, and also implied in your post, isolated incidents where Aramark's food have not been up to scratch does not mean that their food will be horrible once they take over at Towers.
Click to expand...

No but everyone seems to be forgetting that they have reduced the quality of food at the southern parks already (hence the social media backlash).

I’m confused as to why people think they will do something different at Towers than they have done in the other Merlin parks?
 
zeock said:
As stated earlier in this topic, and also implied in your post, isolated incidents where Aramark's food have not been up to scratch does not mean that their food will be horrible once they take over at Towers.
Click to expand...
Outsourcing generally means cuts in quality...always has, always will.
Please bury me in examples of where this is not the case, and I will happily change my mind on the matter.
I avoid the third rate trash food at the Towers, the quality of food provision has slipped year by year, over many years, going right back to the Swiss Cottage and railway carriage.
Bring back McD's.
 
rob666 said:
Outsourcing generally means cuts in quality...always has, always will.
Please bury me in examples of where this is not the case, and I will happily change my mind on the matter.
I avoid the third rate trash food at the Towers, the quality of food provision has slipped year by year, over many years, going right back to the Swiss Cottage and railway carriage.
Bring back McD's.
Click to expand...
You are right, Aramark will almost certainly make the food worse, the point I was trying to make was to not treat isolated incidents as how a company runs all the time. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
 
No misunderstanding mate, and there have been lots of litigation cases and complaints over time in the US.
Suppose the bigger the company, the easier it is to highlight previous problems I guess.
 
Got me.
But how was the beer in the Horror bar, I can't remember much.
Bar staff did a good vanishing act though.
 
rob666 said:
Outsourcing generally means cuts in quality...always has, always will.
Please bury me in examples of where this is not the case, and I will happily change my mind on the matter.
I avoid the third rate trash food at the Towers, the quality of food provision has slipped year by year, over many years, going right back to the Swiss Cottage and railway carriage.
Bring back McD's.
Click to expand...

You have the example of outsourcing sort of improving things in your own post, McDonalds. They delivered predictable quality at least.
 
rob666 said:
Got me.
But how was the beer in the Horror bar, I can't remember much.
Bar staff did a good vanishing act though.
Click to expand...
Pretty poor and almost no selection. It's a pretty tongue in cheek comparison referencing a family business against a corporate behemoth, but some of the underlying comparisons are true.

rob666 said:
Don't expect me to be logical on days with a y in them.
McD's was probably the best over the years for reasonably cheap fast food.
Click to expand...
I think McDonalds was fine - certainly more consistent than the current. As @jon81uk said - that was an outsourced offering, arguably the franchise setup drove some of the quality - it's quite hard to find a bad McDonalds for that reason. Arguably, Aramark won't have that particular thing to contend with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top