Compass Group to Take Over Café Metso at Tampere Main Library Early Next Year

Compass Group Finland will take over the Café Metso at the Metso main library from early next year, after Tampere city rejected a request for rectification from the current operator’s parent company, Tamperelainen reports.

Compass won the tender on the basis of the best price-quality ratio and scored highest in the comparison, the procurement unit said. The contract runs for two years with a possible three-year option. Three companies bid: Compass Group Finland, PP Kahvilat Oy and Vinedu Oy.

Vinedu argued the winner’s prices were unusually low, that the tender text was unclear and that the quality assessment was flawed. The procurement unit, however, found the criteria clear and said the evaluation followed the pre-announced rules.

City officials noted Compass’s use of the trade name Café Metso in its operating plan did not affect scoring, and they said the city will ensure no protected name is used without the proper rights.

Current Café Metso operator Kaisa Kalliolahti has appealed the procurement decision to the Market Court, and an online petition supporting the existing café gathered more than 10,000 signatures.

The decision follows the city's September award of the contract to Compass Group and earlier reporting that the current operator was preparing an appeal and a petition drew more than 10,000 signatures.