in brief

Gardner goes

Doug Gardner has resigned as finance director of the Hartford Group following its profits warning in July. Gardner joined Hartford earlier this year to find new premises, but the company will now focus on improving performance and profits at its existing six restaurants, which include Pharmacy in London.

Top job for Horler

City Centre Restaurants has promoted James Horler to managing director of Frankie & Benny's International. He was operations director of Frankie & Benny's New York Italian Restaurant and Bar and has overseen the development of the renamed brand - which should number 60 outlets this year - since its creation in 1995.

Hill says no

Chef Toby Hill has turned down an offer to work for Conran Restaurants after discussions with Dean Winter, general manager of Quaglino's restaurant, London, last week. Hill left London's Halcyon Hotel in June.

Sodexho's snap

Sodexho has won a contract worth £500,000 a year to cater for Kodak staff at the company's base in Harrow, Middlesex. The caterer, formerly known as Gardner Merchant, scooped the contract from rival Sutcliffe. It runs for an initial three years before review and involves serving about 1,400 meals a day, including breakfast, lunch, tea and a night service.