Oxfam favours Catermasters...
Independent contract caterer Catermasters has won a five-year contract to provide catering and hospitality services at the UK office of Oxfam in Oxford. The deal will turn over £280,000 per year and start on 1 August. Facilities will include a café and deli bar, which will cater for 700 Oxfam employees and serve Fairtrade goods where possible. Six Catermasters staff will work on the new contract.
...as does Oxford University
Catermasters has also won a three-year contract for food services at Oxford University's Old Road Campus. It will turn over £300,000 a year and start on 1 June. A total of 700 university employees will be served at the restaurant and a new café/deli bar. Nine Catermasters staff will work on the contract, which was previously run by Eurest.
Government charter mark for Gateshead School Meals Service
Gateshead School Meals Service has been awarded a Government charter mark for excellent service. Since 2000 it has increased the number of pupils eating school meals by 2,000 and menus have been extended to include healthier options, less processed food and bigger portions. It has been rewarded for the introduction of breakfast clubs, milk bars and a healthy packed lunch option. The service caters for more than 70,000 pupils at more than 80 primary and special schools in the borough.
Eurest wins double deal with Centrica
Eurest, the business and industry arm of Compass Group, has expanded its contract with gas provider Centrica by winning a five-year contract to provide catering services at two further sites in Manchester and Solihull. The deal, which will turn over a total of £560,000 per year, takes its total number of UK Centrica sites to 18. In Manchester, where the annual turnover is £260,000, nine Eurest staff will cater for 950 employees. In Solihull, which will turn over £300,000, 14 Eurest staff will cater for 1,200 Centrica employees. Both contracts were previously run by Sodexho.
Gunners go for Delaware North
Delaware North has won a 20-year contract to provide catering services at Arsenal football club, at Ashburton Grove, London. The deal, which will turn over about £13m per year, includes a formal dining service for 3,000 covers on match days, four bars, 25 kiosks, catering in 150 private boxes, and an informal dining area for 2,500 on match days. The contract begins in summer 2006 and will see 25 Delaware staff working at the 60,000 capacity stadium, rising to 1,000 on match days. The contract was previously held by Compass.
by Tom Bill