Exhibition makes operational changes at Hub
By Lethbridge Herald on July 12, 2024.
The Lethbridge and District Exhibition has replaced its food and beverage provider, one of several changes made to improve quality of service and economic sustainability of the organization.“We’ve made the decision to move in a different direction with our food and beverage services, with the important goal of shifting this area of our business from an expense to a revenue generator,” says Kim Gallucci, Acting CEO of LDE, in a press release sent Thursday by the City of Lethbridge.
“With the right partner, we think this is absolutely achievable and critical to the success of the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre. This will help us deliver a food a beverage service that meets and exceeds the expectations of our customers.”
The change is expected to cost about $600,000 which includes expenses for kitchen equipment – the majority of which will remain LDE property – severance and inventory, some of which the City says can be recouped with the new vendor.
This expense will be funded from contingencies and is expected to allow the Exhibition to be profitable in this area in the short and long-term.
In response to a question from councillor Rajko Dodic about the daily financial loss at the Exhibition during Thursday’s meeting of the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee, Chief Financial Officer and treasurer Darrell Mathews of the City agreed that loss is about $9,000 per day.
Gallucci, in response to a question from councillor Belinda Crowson, said the Exhibition is losing less money than the last time it reported to the SPC.
Lethbridge based caterer Sky & Table have temporarily taken over food and beverage services at the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre while LDE prepares to go to market and secure a long-term partner.
“We love to see a local company stepping up and helping out while LDE goes through a thorough procurement process to finding the best partner moving forward,” said Mayor Hyggen in the City release.
LDE on Thursday reported a $1.4 million deficit seven months into their fiscal year, which the City says is “making good strides in reducing the original estimated deficit of $6.4 million per year.”
“It’s our goal, every day, to keep chipping away at that deficit and make this the best facility possible for our community,” says Gallucci in the release. “We’ve been able to do that with strong financial management and prudent business decisions.”
The Exhibition has also made an operational decision to expand a roughed-in area of the trade centre lobby to establish a concession which will be controlled by the Exhibition to provide another revenue opportunity while increasing service to visitors and rental clients. The concession is expected to open in time for Whoop-Up Days. 2
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