The Web Summit 2015, already mired in controversy over the ongoing squabbling over emails sent from founder Paddy Cosgrave to the Department of the Taoiseach, has gotten off to a successful start this morning. But by lunchtime, it turned out that the catering arrangements of the Food Summit had succeeded in emptying pockets and half-filling stomachs.
The annual tech event, now billed as too big for Dublin by its founder, billed its attendees €20 a head for a hot dog or burger, served with a bottle of still water.
Attendees were advised by event organisers that based on feedback from 2014’s Summit, also held at the RDS just south of Dublin’s city centre, a streamlined service offering “a main course and drink” would be available, with food tokens costing €20 per day or €50 for three.
While the stands offered a selection of foods, including blah sandwiches, curries, wraps, and burgers, those who had purchased the tokens for €20 could only avail of one serving. Additional ice creams and yoghurts were also available, for a supplementary fee.
Grumbles of disappointment at what was being served started to appear on social media, under the hashtag #FoodGate:
20 EUR for this! I'm livid. #websummit #foodgate pic.twitter.com/QGtHaoZBXK
— Caitriona (@CaitrionaDwyer) November 3, 2015
This is the supersonic Irish artisan food 20 quid buys you at @websummit disappointing
A photo posted by @brandireland on Nov 3, 2015 at 3:44am PST
Stunning #websummit PR misstep. Charging €20 for lunch per day guaranteed to play badly. https://t.co/K5IHqGYLje
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) November 2, 2015
I went to have a look at how much food you get for €20. I think I'd feel a bit overcharged at €10, to be honest. #websummit
— Drew Shiel (@drewshiel) November 3, 2015
@philcicle I thought it was a joke until @WebSummitHQ tried to sell me a €20 lunch voucher covering 'burger and soft drink' #websummit
— Brian J Smyth (@brianjsmyth) November 3, 2015
#WebSummit2015 great. #foodsummit total rip off. Disgusting greasy food for 20e. Disappointed.
— Pauline Brown (@pauline8brown) November 3, 2015
Seriously? 20€ for one dish? Probably the worst marketing for Irish food #websummit
— Christoph Speckmann (@speckmnn) November 3, 2015
[H/T: Joe.ie]
