May Consulting is a specialist in developing creative solutions for projects where food service is a critical element of the business mix. Extensive experience has been gained working with venues from a wide range of sectors and projects from individual restaurants and cafés to major developments. May Consulting take a holistic approach, which involves consulting from project conceptualisation through to fit-out, appointment of a caterer and opening. Consulting advice and solutions are based on extensive industry and business experience. May Consulting have considerable experience consulting to the cultural and tourism sectors with a focus on tender strategy and management, retail strategy and operational feasibility.
Multifaceted single contractor catering contracts have dominated service delivery over the past decade. It is May Consulting’s belief that a collaborative approach between venue and caterer will add value to the visitor’s experience. This includes aligning menus, pricing philosophy and the range of catering services. Recent tenders for Zoos Victoria, the Arts Centre, Melbourne and City of Melbourne Town Hall have demonstrated the commercial success of this approach for both the venue and caterer. In each instance, the appointed caterer has won Venue Caterer of the Year in its first contract year.
"The Catering Contracts tender process achieved outstanding commercial outcomes (in excess of 50% above budget) set new benchmarks in the Melbourne market and delivered significant improvements in food and beverage service quality and customer satisfaction."
Tendering a catering contract provides an organisation with the opportunity to redefine its relationship with its caterer both commercially and operationally. It establishes a closer working relationship to achieve strategic planning objectives and progressive performance improvement over the contract term.
The management of the tender process applies a coordinated approach to achieving these objectives through the development of contract objectives and performance indicators, documentation of the process, liaison with lease documentation. The management process also includes the evaluation and management of the contract appointment and transition phase of the contract. The contract framework, defined in this process provides the organisation with a meaningful management tool which has been consistently and effectively applied to achieve documented objectives and align delivery with organisation priorities and strategic objectives.
Tender management often involves the review of existing catering facilities and infrastructure to reflect future commercial performance objectives, mapping and costing upgrades and determining the most effective mode of contract structure to achieve organisational objectives.
"In mid 2002 the Victorian Arts Centre Trust engaged Sharyn May to assist with the design and delivery of a major tender process for new Catering Services. The Trust recognised food and beverage services are a fundamentally important element of the visitor experience and set out to make major improvements to visitor satisfaction, market positioning and commercial performance. . ..The Catering Contracts comprised a complex mix of twelve different business streams in retail and functions catering. Sharyn established immediate rapport with major stakeholders, tender respondents, Trust members and other key participants. Her extensive industry knowledge, commercial acumen, astute insights and excellent communication and negotiation skills were invaluable.
Sharyn’s energetic and task-focused approach was instrumental in helping the Tender Evaluation Panel to maintain productive relationships while working through large, complex issues under the constant pressure of project deadlines."
