Company Wins Chicago Jail Food Bid With Questionable Minority Partner

Joint Venture firm CBM Premier Management, LLC, has won a three-year, $38.4 million county contract to supply meals to the Cook County (IL) Jail after one of its partners wrongly claimed disadvantaged minority status, alleges the Chicago Sun-Times.

CBM listed one of its partners, Airport Restaurant Management, Inc. (ARMI), as a “minority-owned business enterprise” even though it doesn’t have MBE certification. ARMI President/Majority Owner Timothy Rand has been a big campaign contributor to local politicians. CBM's bid was also $2.1 million higher than that of Aramark Correctional Services LLC, which had held the jail contract since 2000.