Contract catering round-up
Leith's drops anchor on £6m Naval College contract
Leisure caterer Leith's has won a contract at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, that will turn over £6m over five years. Under the royalty-based deal, the Compass Group subsidiary is providing public and hospitality catering at the World Heritage Site.
Leith's is running the Pepys Coffee House and the 100-seat Wardroom Restaurant, with a bistro-style menu featuring "classic English dishes". It is investing an undisclosed sum in refurbishing the Pepys Coffee House.
The college, which is open to the public, also arranges banqueting for up to 450 people in the historic Painted Hall, and receptions for as many as 600 in the Admiral's House overlooking the River Thames.
The contract started on 7 January. Catering was previously in-house and the 12 staff, whose numbers swell to 30 for special events, have transferred to Leith's.
Permira closes Travelodge deal
Last week saw the completion Compass Group's £712m sale of Travelodge and Little Chef to private equity firm Permira. The deal, announced in December, was awaiting clearance from the European Commission.
Travelodge is the second-largest budget hotel chain in the UK, with more than 12,000 rooms. Little Chef has 368 outlets on major trunk roads and at Compass Group's Moto motorway service areas.
Franchise agreements will allow Compass to continue to operate Little Chef at its service stations, and for Little Chef to use the Harry Ramsden's fish-and-chip brand owned by Compass.
Permira plans to expand both businesses rapidly over the next few years.
Winner's circle
Aramark has won the contract to provide catering for the 2004 summer Olympic Games in Athens. It will work with Greek hospitality and tourism group Daskalantonakis to provide meals for more than 35,000 athletes, coaches, officials and staff over the 60 days of the Olympics and Paralympics.
Organics wilting
France-based Sodexho Alliance has downgraded its forecast for organic sales growth in the 2003 financial year. The company said last week sales would grow by between 4% and 6%. It had thought growth would be between 5% and 6%.
