This is the reason that the De Griekse Olijf food truck is no longer on campus: ‘The choice is sink or swim’

We need to go back to 2014 when the first food trucks opened on campus. TU Delft viewed the trucks as a welcome addition to the existing catering options and a way to make its grounds more lively. De Griekse Olijf was one of the first food trucks and it became a familiar sight in the Mekelpark where Yannis and Esther prepared their pita bread.

Stricter requirements

The arrival of the Appèl caterer in July 2023 changed everything. New terms and conditions were imposed on food trucks which took effect on 1 April this year. Since the beginning of this month, food truck owners have had to hand over 10% of their turnover. Of this, 7.5% goes to Appèl and 2.5% to TU Delft. They are also required to use Appèl’s cash register system. This costs EUR 60 per month and it also registers the CO₂ emissions of their dishes. The menu also has to be 60% vegetarian, and the percentage needs to grow every year so that they are completely CO₂ neutral in 2030.

‘We want to be CO₂ in 2030. This means that we need all the catering on campus to be made more sustainable and we need to record our emissions’

A wider TU Delft goal lies behind these new rules. Mariëlle van Duinen, Facility Management TU Delft Manager, explains that these requirements are not one-sided decisions by Appèl. They are directly connected to the tender requirements that TU Delft has compiled. “We want TU Delft to be CO₂ neutral in 2030. This means that we need all the catering on campus to be made more sustainable and we need to record our emissions. The cash register system is essential for this.”

Becoming more sustainable was not a problem for De Griekse Olijf. The issues for them were the extra costs and the lack of freedom to decide how to meet the requirements themselves. “We offered the option of becoming entirely vegetarian and vegan and to pay a set fee every day, but without using the obligatory cash register system,” say Yannis and Esther. Their proposal was rejected. “We need to keep the policy objective and clear, which means that exceptions are not possible,” says Van Duinen.

Concern among other food trucks

Other food truck owners also express concern, not only about the financial costs, but also about the communications. Other new external food trucks were invited to the first meeting with Appèl. In the end the existing food trucks could stay, but the owners said that the meeting ‘set the tone’. “You do not feel appreciated,” one of them said. “You know that you can easily be replaced.”

‘You do not feel appreciated and know that you can easily be replaced’

One owner who has been on campus since 2015 said that “In the beginning there were no agreements. Now I have to sign in agreement as 80% of my turnover comes from TU Delft.” “It is sink or swim,” is Yannis and Esther’s conclusion.

Vulnerable position

Further, the contracts give the food truck owners little security. Both sides can terminate the contracts with a three month notice period without having to give a clear reason for doing so. “This makes us vulnerable,” says one owner. Van Duinen understands their concerns, but explains that “In these cases Appèl always has to first consult TU Delft.”

The food truck owners also want to know what they get in return for the 7.5% turnover payment to Appèl. Van Duinen says that among the services that Appèl provides are an annual audit on food safety, administrative support, communications to students, and support with sustainability. She does admit that “Looking back, we should have taken up contact with the food truck owners earlier. We could have then dealt with their concerns better.”

New round, new opportunities?

The uncertainty among the food truck entrepreneurs goes beyond only the contract. Who could really stay on campus in the new academic year depended on a separate permit round. While most of them have now signed the new contract, this does not automatically give them a place in September. New food trucks could also sign up, which means that the current food trucks have to compete for a place again.

The evaluation was done by Appèl according to a point system which considers aspects like the CO₂ emissions per dish and the extent to which the sustainability goals of TU Delft are met. Some of the owners had to radically change their menu to meet the criteria. Van Duinen says that the current food trucks did have an advantage. “With support they had already started becoming more sustainable, and this helps in their evaluation.”

The outcome is now known. With the exception of CC&C, all the existing food trucks were allocated a spot. CC&C’s food will still be available in one of the food courts on campus.

Customer satisfaction

Still, there is some doubt among the owners as to whether TU Delft will achieve its goals this way. After all, there are plenty of other food outlets on campus such as the Spar University, Snack Station, Café Labs and The Hangout. And other options are having food delivered or bringing your own food. “We understand that people have their own thoughts about this, but we believe that we are moving in the right direction,” says Van Duinen. “And who knowns, if students try the new vegetarian options they may like them.”

‘We had to bid everyone farewell in one go’

TU Delft says that it will keep track of progress through the annual customer satisfaction surveys (the most recent one is from June 2024) and pop-up feedback sessions. “We will not change our goals,” says Van Duinen, “but we may change how we get there.”

Forced farewell

Yannis and Esther watch the situation with pain. Their time on campus has come to an end, at least for now. Saying goodbye hurts. “It is hard to leave as in the 11 years we have gotten to know so many people that we really like,” says Esther. “People usually bid farewell in stages when they move house or graduate, but we had to bid everyone farewell in one go.”

There was a long queue for their food truck on their last day on campus. Assistant Professor Guillaume Rongier says that they will be sorely missed, while exchange student Ubadah Tanveer sees it as unfair. A Greek student, Nafsika Litzerinou, will miss that feeling of home. “The food always reminded me of Greece and I could speak Greek with the owner which was always nice.”

Thanks to the support of their regular customers, Yannis and Esther remain hopeful. “Things will work out and we hope to still regularly see our customers at other locations.”