Contract caterer Aramark officially opened "the poshest basement in London" this week in the words of its consultant executive chef Gordon Ramsay (who had a limerick read to him by one barmy punter at the event).
The caterer's splendid new innovation centre at the London Underwriting Centre in the City is a collection of its "high street" offerings, technology and a demonstration kitchen put in place to showcase the range of options it has to offer customers as well as letting them "get stuck in" on the food side.
Featuring lots and lots of new sparkly equipment the innovative move has been driven by Aramark's passionate belief it has to become a customer focused rather than purchasing led entity to flourish in this brave new century. Sound stuff
With Compass Group refocusing its management structure more strongly around its actual chefs and rival Elior currently shaking things up, it's, personally speaking, a very interesting time to be covering the contract catering sector.
Fingers-crossed, check out our first issue of Caterer in July for more detail about the innovation centre.
