Peter Aldrich

The 2005 Food Service Caterer of the Year was singled out for his quiet but effective leadership. But his leadership is perhaps only quiet because of the size of the company he works for. Peter Aldrich, managing director of business and industry and chief executive of estaurant Associates at Compass Group, was praised by the panel for achieving solid results and keeping his staff happy within a vast organisation. As one judge said: “It shouldn’t always be the fashionable small-scale operators that are recognised for their efforts.”

Aldrich began work in the contract catering industry 25 years ago, starting out as a regional sales director at Sutcliffe. After climbing the ranks he was made UK managing director of the company in 1997. He was appointed to his current position after the merger of Granada’s food service business (which included Sutcliffe) with Compass in 2000. In July 2003 he was given responsibility for Compass’s fine-dining division, Restaurant Associates. He is responsible for a portfolio of 2,000 contracts, employing more than 17,000 staff.

In a challenging business and industry market, Aldrich’s insight and management skills have proved vital. The total value of business currently managed by Aldrich turns over £690m and contributes £80m profit. It covers the majority of the most prestigious and high-profile contracts operated by Compass Group in the UK, having grown from a £418m turnover business that contributed £38m profit in 2000.

One judge said: “His leadership style is quiet but he is the best results-getter I’ve ever seen. He’s got a fantastic retention rate for Compass. There are tonnes of people with a higher profile who are useless.”

Another commented: “He’s done a cracking job. He’s the best contract caterer sales person I’ve worked with because he’s credible.”

“There’s no doubt that he’s a talented guy,” said another, “as a senior executive in a large organisation he’s a 10 out of 10. Everything he’s done at Restaurant Associates
has been an example of innovation. It sets him aside from the rest.”

But beyond his business acumen, the judges commended Aldrich’s ability to keep his staff happy. In March this year Compass was voted the seventh best big company to work for in the UK by the Sunday Times. Seventy-one per cent of employees said their managers cared about their job and 68% cited their managers as excellent role models.

The judges acknowledged his skill in handling staff and pointed out that such skills were more critical when 17,000 people are under you. “I take my hat off to him,” said one judge. “The employee survey is a big positive. When the foot soldiers give such good feedback it’s always impressive.”

Another described him as a role model for people coming into the industry: “His team will jump over the moon for him. He’s a great example for the young guys coming through. He has an uncanny ability to work with and hold teams.”

The judges

• Paul Budd, commandant,Defence Food Services School
• Fergus Chambers, director, Encore Creative Catering
• Donald Davenport, chief executive, Compass Group UK & Ireland
• Jonathan Doughty, group managing director, Coverpoint Catering Consultancy
• Mike Smith, joint managing director, BaxterStorey
• Chris Stern, managing director, Stern Consultancy
• Bill Toner

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