UPDATE: South Bend International Airport files motion for dismissal in South Bend Chocolate Factory lawsuit
ABC 57 UPDATE: The South Bend International Airport is calling for the lawsuit brought against them by the South Bend Chocolate Company to be dismissed.
In a new statement, the airport says it conducted a "formal, fair, and transparent" request of proposals process to expand concession offerings. It also says the South Bend Chocolate Company's lease is not being terminated but instead expires on May 31.
The South Bend Chocolate Company plans to hold a press conference tomorrow, May 6, to address its concerns.
ORIGINAL STORY: SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Following a rebidding process that allegedly replaced the South Bend International Airport's master concessionaire with an out-of-state competitor, the South Bend Chocolate Company are suing the Airport and its director.
The South Bend Chocolate Company and its president, Mark Tarner, have brought a lawsuit against the Airport and its director, Mike Daigle. More details about the suit are set to be released on Wednesday.
Allegedly, the Airport chose an out-of-state vendor, Sky Dine, as its master concessionaire following a rebidding process where Sky Dine bid a lower percentage rent than the Chocolate Company, the current master concessionaire.
According to the Chocolate Company, it has served as the Airport's master concessionaire since 2014 and increased concession sales by over 372% to an estimated $4.6 million in that time.
