Elior to offer venue service at client sites

Contract caterer Elior UK will launch a new venue-finding service, Venue-Elior, later this month.

Event bookers will have access to 40 of Elior clients' sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Lloyd's of London, the Tower of London, Rangers Football Club and Kempton Park Racecourse.

Elior, which has set up a dedicated website for the service, will provide catering at the sites through brands such as Digby Trout Restaurants and Azure.

While Elior is expected to charge a finder's fee, the main financial beneficiaries will be the site owners.

Elior UK chief executive Mike Audis said he hoped the venture would "wash its face" [break even] in the first year after its launch on 17 May.

"We see it as a value-added service," Audis told Caterer. "I think its biggest benefit will be in helping us to strengthen existing relationships with clients and put us in a better position when contracts come up for re-tender."

Venue-Elior is being headed by UK marketing manager Raymond Santamaria.

The group recently restructured its UK business, placing a focus on facilities management with the creation of a dedicated division.

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By Chris Druce

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