Hopkinson, the company formed in October by a former director of Sovereign Catering, has won its first contracts, with a combined turnover of £600,000 a year.

The company has gained two contracts, both in the Midlands and both at the expense of Bromwich Catering, the firm taken over by Granada Food Services last June.

The first deal is with Honormead Schools, which runs schools for autistic children. Hopkinson will provide catering and housekeeping services at Bladon House and Caldwell Hall schools, in Burton on Trent, Derbyshire.

Hopkinson's managing director, Frank Hopkinson, said Honormead had not been deterred by the firm's lack of track record. "What they were looking for was someone who had time at a senior level to come in and look at it," he said.

Mr Hopkinson's second contract is to run a 90-seat restaurant at the Grangecraft Garden Centre in Mickleover near Derby.