Inside track

What business is it in? Contract catering. It's the largest independent in the UK.

What brands does it operate? The company services the business and industry sector through its Wilson Storey Halliday operation, and the healthcare and education sector through its recently purchased Cater Link operation. It also has a retail operation, WSLD, which trades under the La Brioche Dor‚e name.

What's its form? Turnover for 2003 was £55m, a 20% increase over 2002. The company has about 260 clients, from small businesses to major international companies, including Oracle, Barclays Bank and Thames Water.

Where is its head office and area of operation? Its head office is in Wokingham, Berkshire, and it operates at 165 locations nationally.

What sort of employer is it? The company has been granted the Government-backed Excellence Through People Best Employment Practice award. Wilson Storey Halliday has 1,600 employees, 500 of whom have joined the company since 2002.

How does the future look? Alastair Storey, managing director, has stated that the company is looking forward to another bumper year. In the first three months of 2004 it has won £8m of new business, including contracts at PA Consulting and the Financial Times. Go to www.halliday.co.uk/vacancies.php to find out what's on offer by region.

Did you know? The company came into being in 2001 when Halliday Catering and Wilson Storey teamed up. The heads of the company are Keith Wilson, commercial director; Alastair Storey, managing director; and Linda Halliday, human resources and training director.