[9/28/01]A Vicksburg firm will be recommended by the advisory board of the Vicksburg Convention Center to handle food service at the center.

MMI Dining Systems of Jackson has had the exclusive contract to sell meals at the convention center since it opened in 1997. The company first worked under an 18-month contract but it has been the caterer on a month-to-month basis since.

In April, the City of Vicksburg hired Compass Facility Management, a private company based in Ames, Iowa, on a five-year contract. Shortly after Compass took over, company officials announced they intended to re-evaluate the food service contract.

As a result, they invited MMI and seven other companies to submit proposals. MMI and Riverside Food Service of Vicksburg replied.

The winner selected by a committee made up of Compass executives was Riverside headed by local restaurateurs Randy Wright and Gary Thomas, Larry Gawronski, executive director of the convention center, told the advisory board at its meeting this morning.

If the plan is approved by the Mayor and Aldermen of Monday, the five-year contract will be effective Nov. 1.

Gawronski said Compass likes to use local vendors as much as possible. Wright operates Goldie’s Trail Bar-B-Que and Thomas operates Goldie’s Express.