Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 30550

MEridien takeover

FORTE is believed to be interested in buying Air France's 57% stake in Méridien, the luxury hotel chain.

The move comes a month after Forte's offer for Ciga Hotels was trumped at the eleventh hour by Sheraton.

The loss-making airline's decision to sell most of its stake follows the collapse 18 months ago of a plan to merge the 58-strong chain with German group Kempinski.

By a coincidence, Forte's recently appointed senior development director, Jochen Schaefer-Suren, worked at Méridienbetween 1983 and 1992, becoming regional vice-president.

However, for the present it is understood that Air France will consider only offers that leave control of Méridien in French hands. Accor is believed to be the frontrunner.

Contracts delayed

LANCASHIRE County Council is delaying the start of its 12 school meals contracts as a result of national confusion over whether staff pension rights should be transferred (Caterer, 3 February).

The contracts are due to be taken over on 1 April by BET Catering Services, which says it is still planning to go ahead with them as soon as it gets the go-ahead.