San Diego

The Sports Arena’s concessions company Tuesday won the multimillion-dollar food and beverage contract for the San Diego convention center, which is now under construction at the foot of 5th Avenue.

The contract with Premier Food Services Inc. was approved on a 3-2 vote by the San Diego Convention Center Corp. Board of Directors, the organization responsible for operating the facility once it is completed in May, 1989.

The two principals in Premier Food Services are Ballard Smith, former president of the San Diego Padres, and George Karatis. In addition to their concession contract at the Sports Arena, the two men also own Carriage Trade Catering Co. and the new Copacabana restaurant at the north end of Lindbergh Field on Pacific Highway, according to Donna Alm, spokeswoman for the convention center corporation.

In beating out two national companies, Service America Corp. and ARA Leisure Services, Premier Food Services will receive a three-year contract with two one-year extensions at the option of the convention center corporation.

It’s estimated that a five-year contract would bring the company $18 million in gross revenues, said Alm, with the convention center corporation receiving about $4.8 million of that.

As the concessionaire, the company will be responsible for all food served at the facility, including banquets, concession stands, food carts and any off-site catering.

Voting in favor of the contract were Bea Kemp, Mateo Camarillo and Lucy Goldman. In opposition were Paul Peterson and Paul Blackwood. Two other members of the board, Jim Granby and Bruce Moore, abstained from voting, citing conflicts of interest.