Roadside caterer and service station operator Welcome Break has entered into a trial with newsagent WHSmith.

Welcome Break will open a WHSmith store at its Newport Pagnell site during the middle of this month.

Last month the motorway services operator signed a seven-year contract with Eurotunnel to operate the catering facilities at its Passenger Terminal Building at Folkestone.

Turnover in the year ended 26 September 2006 was 2.4% up at £631m, while operating profit increased 13.1% to £26.9m.

Rod McKie, chief executive of Welcome Break, said: “Since our financial year ended, we have accelerated the momentum in the business through deals with Eurotunnel and a new trial with WHSmith.”

Welcome Break is owner by Investcorp and operates 24 motorway service areas across the UK, serving around 80 million customers a year.

Welcome Break signs Starbucks franchise? >>

Welcome Break joins KFC to bypass ad ban >>

Welcome Break sells nine MSAs in leaseback deal >>

Welcome Break plans £250m sale-and-leaseback >>

Welcome Break website >>

By Chris Druce

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.