A round-up of the latest news from the contract catering sector...
Eurest cooks up a deal with Sage
Eurest, the Compass subsidiary, has signed a five-year contract with accountancy software firm Sage to feed the 1,000 staff at its Newcastle upon Tyne headquarters. The contract will turn over £350,000 a year. Eurest will run the company’s Green Room restaurant as well as a photo-developing and dry cleaning service.
Elior sales increase
French catering giant Elior has reported a 4.6% increase in turnover in the nine months to 30 June, to €1.9b (£1.26b).
Contract catering was up by 3.1%, with education and healthcare performing strongly, while concessions saw 7.5% growth. Elior is predicting turnover growth for the year of between 4% and 6%.
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Global arenas deal for Compass
Compass has won a 10-year contract to run catering and dining services at all sports and entertainment sites owned by US firm AEG, including a planned site at London’s Millennium Dome. The deal has been agreed through its subsidiaries Levy Restaurants and Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events. Turnover is understood to be in the region of $55m-$60m (£30m-£33m) a year.
Scolarest launches distance learning
Education contract caterer Scolarest has launched a “healthy eating” distance learning qualification for school cooks. The Compass subsidiary is introducing the qualification for school chefs and catering assistants working in more than 1,700 schools from September.
Alpha boosts Italian stake
Airline caterer Alpha Airports has bought another chunk of Italian subsidiary Servair AirChef. The firm bought 25% of the group in 2001 and has now bought a further 25% for £2.9m. Alpha also said it was continuing to see year-on-year sales growth in current trading.
Bright start for Aramark in China
Aramark has entered the Chinese catering and facilities management market by agreeing a deal to buy 90% of Bright China Service Industries, which provides services to hospitals and businesses in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and other cities in the country.
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