Last Friday, day 14, we got some time to work on our project sporadically throughout the day. First thing in the morning we got to spend some time with Matt in purchasing.
Matt gets to contact the vendors and suppliers for near everything that the university orders from. He sends out bids for certain things that housing or food service would need. This is mandatory for the university. So, for example, if the university wants a vendor for locally brewed coffee (which they are currently in the process of sending out a bid for), then they make a proposal and post it so that all places within Oklahoma have an opportunity to make an offer. They don't necessarily take the best price offer and have to take into consideration who in the long run may be able to provide more that the university may be interested in besides just the one main product. So if anyone from any of the various locations on campus (concessions, couch, crossroads, etc.) need to bring in a new product, piece of equipment, fabric, etc., then they have to contact Matt and he'll prepare something to be sent out to potential vendors. He also explained that the university can bring in more then just one vendor and be able to have a prime vendor, but also a secondary vendor to supply other product. Matt also explained how these contracts work. So, for example, with US Foods, they established something within their contract that stated they would always have curly fries in stock for them (its the big product at Crossroads that students love). So if OU requires an order by Friday or something, then US Foods HAS TO deliver it by that day. There was an actual instance where US Foods had to ship them via FedEx because it is written into their contract! Matt also talked about how they have signature items which means that they will only order say 25 cases of a particular item that the university wants to try or something, then US Foods has to have that minimum amount of cases ready at all times for them. But, if the university ends up not wanting those cases, then they have to use up the rest of what they ordered where as with non-signature items they can decide they don't want to carry them anymore and it's no problem.
After chatting, we got to sit in on a meeting with Matt and Shawn with Coca-Cola reps who were giving them information on the "Coke Freestyle" machine. This isn't yet available in Canada (I asked!), but it's been available in certain states only within the US but they're planning on expanding. It is THE coolest thing I have ever heard of, and it took 7 years for them to develop. This machine is purely touch screen and has over 100 different flavors in it! So you just pick and choose what you want and then you put your cup underneath and it'll pour. How crazy?? We got to see the booklet and they spoke on the success of the product which has been fantastic. Get ready Canada, it's gonna be insane! They also said that eventually you'll be able to create your own drinks via a mobile device and scan it onto the machine and it will make your drink for you like that! These guys serious think of everything..
After that we got to go on a run with Bacon and Matt to pick up some scanners for the university, went to lunch, then we were essentially done for the day! We got to go home early :) That night we went to her brother's baseball game which was so much fun! I'd never really been to one and it was actually really entertaining. We're planning on going to an OKC Redhawks game as well in the next two weeks so stay tuned for those pictures!
So on the weekend we went to another baseball game Saturday morning then went out for lunch at Louie's. I got to try fried green beans for the first time and they were FANTASTIC. Soooo good! With a chipotle/ranch dip.. perfect! The food was great too, it's just a local chain restaurant but it was delicious. I also got to go to the Warren movie theatre that night which was so nice, set up like a very old fashion place and it was stunning! We didn't go to the this kind of theatre spot, but some sections have a balcony and director's suite which you pay more for, but are the best seats in the house! So nice. It's one of the top biggest movie complexes in the nation. Then Sunday was just a relaxing day, nothing too exciting but a very interesting weekend!
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