Tampa named Volume Services Inc. on Wednesday as its choice to take over the roughly $20 million-a-year food and beverage operation at the Tampa Convention Center and The Sail, replacing longtime operator Aramark.
The city’s purchasing director recommended Volume Services as the exclusive operator for nearly everything guests eat or drink across the 600,000-square-foot convention center and its waterfront Sail Plaza, from catered banquets and concession stands to alcohol service, restaurants, bars and mobile food operations. Those venues serve more than 350,000 guests a year across roughly 300 event days, although the Sept. 30 recommendation is not yet a final award.
Tampa used $20 million in first-year revenue to evaluate the proposals and assumed sales would grow 5% annually, pushing the model to roughly $24.3 million by year five. That starting point is close to what the operation already produces. Aramark reported $17.6 million in food and beverage sales from May 2025 through April 2026, including $10.7 million from catering, and $21.5 million in total revenue after other income…