Compass seals venture with Nairn

Scottish chef Nick Nairn has formed a joint venture company with contract caterer Compass which will use Nairn's name for outside events and executive boardroom dining in Scotland.

Nairns Anywhere has been piloted for the past year while negotiations between the chef and Compass continued. Under the agreement, Compass can use Nairn's name for five years.

Compass says having the chef's name on the business is not just for marketing - Nairn will be hands-on and Compass chefs in Scotland will use his cookery school for training.

While Nairns Anywhere will be the name used for outside event catering, another label, Nairns Executive Dining, will target boardroom dining, both for ad hoc functions and permanent catering contracts.

Compass is close to signing the first significant business for Nairns Anywhere - three contracts with a combined annual turnover value of £1.2m.