CO places a real dollar value on product differentiation and customer good will, both of which free meals create. Since we all know that CO is, ummm...frugal, the return on this expense must be more than the cost.

Chelsea is a major player in the catering world with kitchens in 5 hubs providing catering not only to CO but to many other airlines, intl and dom. In addition, they provide food for Starbucks in DEN. This is from Jan '06 but I assume it hasn't changed, "...creating specialty sandwiches and cheese-and-fruit trays for 128 Starbucks stores in the Denver area. With a monthly production estimated at 47,000 sandwiches, and with additional products currently under review".