Two bidders battle for convention center food, beverage contract

The food and beverage contract for the Orange County Convention Center is no small potatoes.

Based on 2017 figures, the lucrative contract could be worth more than $50 million in annual sales to the winner, which could mean $550 million in sales over the potential 11-year life of the job, which was last awarded amid a fuss in 2008 to Connecticutbased Centerplate, one of two contenders this time. The other is a recently-formed venture between Levy restaurants and several partners, including Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Grills.

“It’s a lot of food,” said Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke, who sat on the county’s procurement committee. Clarke and fellow commissioners are set to pick a winner Tuesday.

This year’s process also sparked controversy. In a letter to county officials, attorney Hal Kantor, representing the Levy venture, expressed “disappointment and utter shock” that Orange County allowed Centerplate to black out most of its bid details as “trade secret” exemptions under Florida’s Sunshine Law, the state’s guiding publicrecords law.

Kantor said he became aware of the black-outs, which Centerplate requested, after the county posted a link to the proposals a few weeks ago.

The lawyer said the pervasive black-out of information appears to be “a bad faith act...and is an abuse of discretion in violation of Florida law.”

Through its lawyer, the Orlando Sentinel also has objected to the heavy redaction.

Centerplate, through spokesman Paul Pettas, declined comment.

“We have not seen the letter, and it is our policy not to comment during an open bid in proc-