Consumer and Worker Opinions of an A La Carte Food Service System Independent of any Systematic Changes in Ration Status: Barksdale AFB

摘要

In an effort to study the effect of replacing the traditional flat-rate, meal priced system in Air Force food service with an item-priced A La Carte system, but without making any systematic changes in the ration status of individuals, Air Force enlisted personnel at Barksdale AFB, LA, were surveyed and interviewed both before and after conversion to an item-priced A La Carte food service system. Generally, item pricing was preferred over flat-rate, meal pricing by a majority of consumer respondents both before and after the A La Carte conversion, but to a greater extent after consumer experience with the new system than before. Better food preparation, increased food variety, and reduced waiting time in line were the three most salient factors contributing to a significant improvement in consumer attitudes toward the dining facilities from pre- to post-A La Carte. A La Carte did not save the consumers any money, on the average, and was not perceived by them as an economic advantage. Surveys and interviews were also administered to the food service workers both before and after the A La Carte conversion. The workers were initially more skeptical of the new system than the consumers, but after experiencing it came to prefer A La Carte even more strongly than did the consumers. The three most positive effects of A La Carte cited by the worker sample were better quality food, more food variety, and much reduced plate waste, largely corroborating the consumer opinions. Although A La Carte reportedly made their jobs harder, most workers reported greater job satisfaction under the A La Carte system. (Author)