Most of the suppliers are great at helping find the best solutions for the proper fasteners to secure to cement.

Joel -I can recommend a supplier who will provide above builder-grade carpet (25-28 lb) for $3.50 per square yard, 6 lb pad at $1.60 per square yard, and and I'm sure I can help you find an installer for about $5.00 per square yard or less, depending on the specific location.In fact, this is the same carpet and pad I use in my flips.

The food business, even vending is labor intensive, dealing with approved wholesale suppliers may be required for some products, like pre made salads and sandwiches.

Don't expect you'll get anything, here are the facts, it is his contract, he has favors, you don't have clear draws or scope of work with prices, you don't have lien waivers, you dont have daily timesheets, supplier/subcontractor registry, pretty much you don't have anything but he said i said.

What mix/forumla (and did they include additives) did the suppliers quote you?

I already have my list of subs and suppliers that I've dealt with for years, so the construction piece is taken care of.  

They repeated delayed shipment, blaming it on supplier problems. 

Exclusions are Acts of God, insured perils, weather days need to be assessed to the season, lag time of suppliers or materials delayed or not delivered, delays caused by inspectors or regulatory matters beyond the control of the contractor, defective materials and/or equipment installed in the project, normal amounts of waste and other matters depending on the project.About all you can hold a contractor's feet to the fire on, is failure to continue work when work can be accomplished, their mistakes that exceed some agreed cut off (you will have mistakes and waste) worker's conduct or failure to show, work not to workman like standards or torts, such as walking off the job.

If you are instead sourcing good food with decent customer service you will be competing on price and likely will be crushed by large food chains that have fixed food contract and bigger buying power.A key issue small guys face is when you order food from suppliers you do not purchase enough volume to guarantee a product.

Check with your local plastering suppliers and I'm sure they will have something you will like.