Sodexo Prestige in Scotland records sales £1m ahead of last year
Sodexo Prestige in Scotland has reported dramatic growth in its conference and banqueting business, with sales running £1m ahead of last year.
The caterer, which operates 17 venues across Scotland, including National Museums of Scotland, Hampen Park stadium, Aberdeen Football Club and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (pictured), said it had had an "exceptional year".
Sales for the year to the end of August 2012 were 45% up in the event catering business, and Hampden recorded an increase of 15% on the previous year, while Aberdeen's year-on-year figures were up by 10%.
Austin Tilsley, national account director for Sodexo Prestige in Scotland, credited the company's decision two years ago to invest heavily in its sales, marketing and support infrastructure for conferences and banqueting, for the surge in sales.
"This has been an exceptional year for Sodexo Prestige in Scotland," he said. "Two years ago, we appointed Amanda Brown as national sales director and implemented a robust national sales strategy to work with corporate clients and destination management companies across Scotland and south of the border to position ourselves as one of the leading events catering and venue management companies in Scotland.
"When a lot of people were reducing their overheads and sales teams as a result of the recession, we did the opposite and invested heavily in our sales team, our infrastructure and our marketing, and now we are reaping the benefits while others are suffering.
"We are very fortunate to work with some of Scotland's greatest venues. We have a great team of very talented individuals and the entire infrastructure is in place for us to continue selling these wonderful venues and we are looking forward to enjoying further growth in the conference and banqueting market in Scotland."
The company did not disclose the total value of its sales for conferencing and events.
By Janie Manzoori-Stamford
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