Sol Melià branches out into contract catering
Spanish hotel group Sol Melià has launched a catering business called Melià Catering.
It is based in Barcelona and operates from three food production sites in Palma de Majorca, Madrid and Merida. The company caters for business events, from executive lunches to evening cocktail parties.
Venues range from banqueting rooms in historic buildings to al fresco dining in the grounds of castles and stately homes.
In the long term, Melià Catering would like to expand outside Spain.
David Martinez, director of gastronomy, said: "We would like to be in France and after that Asia would be important to us - countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Japan."
Last year Sol Melià ran a pilot project in Spain. During the trial it was the official caterer for the Majorca Open tennis tournament.
Sol Melià is Spain's largest hotel group. It has more than 350 hotels in 30 countries.