Ramside raid on Durham savings office

North-eastern contractor Ramside Catering Services has taken over from Sutcliffe at the National Savings offices in Durham, serving up to 1,800 staff a day.

General sales manager Stephen Hall said the contract ranked among the six-year-old firm's three largest, in a total of 45. A further four contracts are due to start this month and next.

Mr Hall said the gains gave "a flying start" to the year for the firm, whose turnover stands at between £7m and £8m a year.

Its parent company, Ramside Estates, which operates five hotels in County Durham, has set up a new division, Ramside Event Catering, to look after contracts at sites such as West Hartlepool rugby ground and Sedgefield racecourse.

The division has been awarded a three-year deal to cater at Durham County Cricket Club's new ground. Phase one is scheduled to open on 1 March.