We, TU Delft students, staff and other concerned people, would like to bring your kind attention to our dissatisfaction with the catering company, Sodexo, on the TU Delft campus. Since 2007, Sodexo has been granted the trust of TU Delft along with the trust of its students, staff and associates, to cater to the institution’s food requirements. However, We feel that the company has exploited that trust exclusivity to make itself into a monopoly on campus. Throughout the years, it kept charging higher prices than outside outlets, serving food that is of a low quality being deep fried, intensively processed, or with high sugar content to students ,disregarding the health of the students or their limited budget. In addition to the poor quality of the food, the quantities served are unquestioningly small for the prices charged, in a clear exploitation of their monopoly status. The only part that is served at its highest level possible is the receipt. Other companies can rent prime locations, work full hours bearing the subsequent costs, have less customers per day, spend more on promotions and advertising and still manage to charge lower prices than Sodexo. These companies, if allowed the chance to compete on campus, will perform very well and will bring overall food standards up and prices down. To add insult to injury, Sodexo outlets are opened for limited hours during the day. Not only they serve low quality, low quantity and overpriced food, they also expect the student to be exploited at Sodexo’s convenience. The alternative option is to go off campus, or to bring homemade food. Going off campus to buy food is impractical. By the time the student gets to his destination, orders the food, waits for it to be prepared and served, eats it, and comes back, the hour break is over. Moreover, bringing food from home means that students only get to eat cold meals. That is not the first choice, most realistic or most practical way to dine. Especially if students are forced to do it, just because a greedy company wants to realize it goal of making profits at any cost. Students would prefer a warm meal if it were available for decent price and value for money. An online survey was conducted among TU Delft students and staff. (number) people have participated in the survey, (number)% said they want to end Sodexo’s monopoly and (number)% said they don’t. We would kindly like to request you to look into the matter and end this exploitation to students. The people are voicing, through this petition, their request to end Sodexo’s monopoly and introduce competition on campus. Competition will allow variety of choice, drive prices down and improve quality. Furthermore, we would not like the name of our institution, TU Delft, to be involved with a company with a tainted history of worker and human right abuse and shameful environmental violations. We have a set of alternative solutions that would enable Sodexo to work side by side with competitors on campus in a way that is convenient for the students, staff, competitors and the university. Thanking you for your support regarding the matter and patiently awaiting your reply. Yours sincerely,

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