Campus Dining experiences loss in total revenue

The loss of Brady Food Court caused its total revenue to decrease.

By Krissy Tripp

Published April 9, 2009

Campus Dining Services retail locations are experiencing revenue increases, even in the given economy. But even with revenue increases ranging from 3 to 45 percent, CDS isn't making up for the loss of Brady Food Court.

CDS Retail Operations Manager Alan Petersen said Truman's Takeout is only doing two-thirds of its projections, but he said he doesn't look at what Brady Food Court was able to do.

"I don't compare myself to last year, I compare myself daily to what I want to do in sales," Petersen said.

CDS spokeswoman Julaine Kiehn said they expected and planned for an overall revenue decrease during phase two construction of the new student center.

She also noted other possible causes of revenue changes including the number of students on campus, opening new operations, construction projects and changes in the middle of the academic year.

Student Auxiliary Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese said the bookstore was also experiencing a decrease in impulse buys because there is less traffic flow.

"This was anticipated, as the true flow of student traffic will not occur until the bookstore opens up into phase two," Froese said.

Froese said the bookstore will wait compare revenue until the end of the fiscal year. The information will come June 30 when the fiscal year changes.

After Brady Commons closed CDS lost revenue from the Mizzou Market in Brady Commons, T.A. Brady's and Brady Food Court. Its temporary replacement, Truman's Takeout and The Lunchbox, can only handle a portion of the business.

"The number of seats decreased from over 400 at Brady Food Court to approximately 65 at Truman's Takeout," Kiehn said.

Petersen said a large factor is seating in the location. While the seating has diminished greatly, there is production capacity for more customers. For the time being, students and staff must treat Truman's Takeout as a takeout location and eat nearby instead of always dining in.

"It's a whole new travel path," Petersen said, "We're getting great comments on the food, we just need people to come try it."

Kiehn said CDS is working to make students more aware of new dining locations. They've arranged for Truman's Takeout to be part of the Summer Welcome tour.

Petersen said they plan to use rotating retail coupons and loyalty cards to draw more customers, as well as sampling. Petersen also thinks that the economy is having an effect on retail choices. CDS has started selling half portions of their more expensive items for students who would prefer spending money on sides rather than one sandwich.

In addition to the advertising, Petersen expects the weather to change business. There is more additional seating outside and people will be more willing to wait in line at the Lunchbox. Kiehn said the best day of Lunchbox sales were around $650.

"We didn't expect the weather to be this rainy and this cold for so long," Kiehn said.

Kiehn, Froese and Petersen said they expected the revenue decrease to be temporary. In addition, none of the full-time workers from Brady Food Court were laid-off, and some were displaced during phase two construction.

But Petersen said everyone would transfer back when the student center is complete.

"In two years, those problems will be cured," Petersen said.