Aramark out at Monterey Bay Aquarium

MONTEREY, Calif. — The Monterey Bay Aquarium said this week it removed its Fortune 500 food service operator because of “philosophical differences.”

Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp. had run food services for the aquarium since November 2010 and had partnered with the organization on its Seafood Watch program.

Starting in February, Denver-based Service Systems Associates, which has run the aquarium gift shops for 10 years, will take over food operations.

“We discontinued the relationship to work with Service Systems Associations who we’ve been doing really well with on our retail side,” said Hank Armstrong, aquarium vice-president of communications.

He said the aquarium and Aramark had “philosophical differences that suggested we would be better going in a different direction.” He declined to elaborate.

The company had a 10-year contract with the nonprofit but Armstrong said there was plenty of flexibility allowing either organization to get out of the deal.

Aramark had developed Cindy’s Waterfront at the aquarium with celebrity chef Cindy Pawlcyn. It was unclear if Pawlcyn or other management would stay. Armstrong said the decision would be up to Service Systems Associates, which didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Aramark spokesman David Freireich was also tight-lipped on the reason for the split.

“What I can tell you is that we are proud of our partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the food and beverage program we designed,” he said. “Furthermore, we’ll continue to be a proud partner of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.”

Aramark’s tenure was also marked by the unionization of roughly 55 food service workers in April.

The pact between Unite Here Local 483 contains employee rights language, a grievance procedure, lower insurance co-pays and provides a wage increase ranging from $1.10 to $2 per hour over the three-year contract term.

Unite Here officer Leonard O’Neill said its contract was