Healthy eating boost
Scolarest, the school catering arm of Compass, has helped develop a healthy eating qualification for its school cooks. The NCFE Intermediate Certificate in Nutrition and Health will be available to Scolarest chefs and catering assistants from next month, and will subsequently be rolled out to other Compass divisions. Staff will take part at their own pace through distance learning, with support from tutors at local colleges. It is expected that most will complete the course in three months.

UK revpar on the up
The UK led the way in terms of revenue per available room (revpar) growth in Europe in the first half of 2004, according to the latest figures from MKG Consulting. Revpar across the UK's hotels increased by 12.4% to g81.60 (£54.40), with occupancy up by 3.7 percentage points to 72.6% and average room rate up by 6.6% to g112.50 (£75). Revpar across Europe's hotels as a whole was up by 4.8% to g59.30 (£36.54), although this was against a weak first half in 2003.

Elior-Bercy merger
French contract caterer Elior, which owns Avenance and Digby Trout Restaurants in the UK, has merged with subsidiary Bercy Management. The company held a 29.13% stake in Elior and was owned by Elior founders Francis Markus - who has now relinquished his managerial responsibilities - and Robert Zolade, who remains as a sole partner in the group. Zolade has shifted his stake to a new holding company.

Cotton's charity role
Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, has been elected president of industry charity Hospitality Action. Cotton will take over the position at the end of the month when current president Garry Hawkes steps down after eight years. Cotton said: "I know what good work Hospitality Action does as a safety net for the vulnerable of our industry and I shall do my utmost to further its ability to help those who need help."