Charlton House chief executive Robyn Jones has panned large contract caterers for giving the industry a bad name.
Speaking at an Arena interview with Avenance chief executive Mike Audis in London last week, she said: "The bigger companies are bad for the sector because of the way that they operate. When the only utensil a caterer uses is a pair of scissors to open a bag it doesn't make it an attractive business to go into."
While Jones excluded the Elior-owned Avenance, she blamed cost-cutting and shareholder pressure for poor practices in some kitchens. "To reduce costs they don't invest in people or training," she said.
Audis broadly agreed with her claims, saying: "I accept the analysis that some contractors are actively endangering the industry. There's an element of truth in that."
Sean Valentine, managing director of independent caterer Missing Ingredients, said: "There's an increasing sense of desperation from the larger players as the appetite of shareholders becomes more insatiable. There's a nervousness about costs that filters down through senior management and ultimately to the coalface."
But a spokeswoman for Aramark dismissed Jones's claims. "We believe there is room for contract caterers of all sizes in the market," she said. "No matter what size the business, success comes through offering clients and customers what they want. We actively maintain and develop a high level of craft skills."
A Compass spokesman also rejected the comments. "Our people are at the heart of our business strategy and we are committed to investing in their development. We manage the hospitality industry's largest modern apprenticeship scheme with more than 700 participants currently in training."
Sodexho declined to comment.