Vendors: Food prices rise at Balloon Fiesta

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - On the heels of the big flap over how much vendors should pay to be a part of the International Balloon Fiesta, people are wondering if some of those vendors are passing on this year's event or increasing prices.

The answers are yes and yes, but Fiesta officials say it's not by much.

Owners of the Arizona based Barbeque Pit Express have been part of the Balloon Fiesta for the last 28 years and they do not like the new contract.

"We're willing to try," said Owner Carl Motley. "It's not good our bottom line is going to be cut considerably."

New Mexico's Road Runner Foods, known for fired foods, especially fried beer, is a 15-year-veteran and said was a hard decision for them as well.

Both say their prices will be up about about $1.50 per item.

"We're dealing with it as best as we can," said Cooley. "It's going to cost us a lot more and unfortunately that's going to be passed onto the consumer."

Motley agreed.

"We did have to raise our prices some to cover the amount that they're collecting from us for the vendor fee," Motley said.

The Fiesta is taking 30-percent of vendors' overall profits instead of charging them one flat rate. They hired an outside company called Ovations to oversee all the food concession stands saying the Fiesta needs more money for improvements, and the vendors need more oversight.

"The Fiesta is getting to be one of the largest festivals in the United States, and they want to continue to manage the food service and give the people coming here a fabulous experience," explained Ovations Vice President Jay Satenspiel.

Ovations says you can expect different foods this year with 18 new vendors including Chick-Fil-A and Sadie's Restaurant.

Not all of the vendors hate the new contracts.

"If you're used to doing a lot of fairs and so on as we are, you're used to percentages and it doesn't really bother you," said Lacey Williams of Williams Concessions, LLC. She brings her food stand from Las Vegas Nevada every year.

The total number of food vendors is down from last year and four of the 19 that openly opposed the new contracts ended up not returning for this year's Fiesta.

The Fiesta is at full capacity, though because some of the vendors decided to buy extra space to make a bit more money.

Another concern was that the Fiesta was pushing out local businesses to make way for more contracts with chain restaurants, but Fiesta officials also dispute that. They say half of this year's vendors are local.