Date:
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Contact:
Celia Schorr, Customer and Community Relations, 206-515-3918
This press release is from 2005 and is not Valid. Sound Foods Remains in Operation on this route.
SEATTLE- Sound Food Caf�, Bakery & Wine Bar today notified Washington State Ferries of its intent to cease operation of its on-board food concession at the end of this month. The company provides food service on the Vashon/Southworth/Fauntleroy ferry route.
According to the notification letter from General Partner William Dorn, "Sound Food regrets this decision but it is necessitated by the fact that Sound Food is unable to operate the service at a profit."
Dorn goes on to explain that the business had tried to decrease costs through changes to its medical benefits program, but that the conditions of the offer were rejected by his workers and their union. The letter continues, "With no other reasonable area for cost savings, Sound Food intends to cease operation on December 31st."
"This is disappointing," said Mike Anderson, Washington State Ferries Executive Director. "On-board food service is an amenity our customers enjoy. Everyone likes to be able to get a cup of fresh coffee and some food when they're on a ferry," Anderson added.
"We recognized from the beginning that this route has unique logistical challenges that make it hard for on-board food service to be profitable," continued Anderson. "That's why we set this up as a pilot project. We were impressed with Sound Food and their desire to make this work. The company brought a lot of enthusiasm, good quality food, and community support to this project."
"We thank Bill Dorn and his staff for all the hard work they've put in to make this happen. In the end, no matter how hard they worked, or how creative they were, the business was just not profitable," said Anderson.
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