Sutcliffe thrives at Oxford site

Sutcliffe Catering is predicting its contract with Oxford College of Further Education will have moved onto a nil-subsidy footing by January 1996 as a direct result of introducing its brands to the site.

Sutcliffe took over the contract from in-house managers last January after the college put its catering out to tender following an £86,000 loss in 1993-94.

The company then carried out a refurbishment project in the spring, allowing it to open a number of its branded outlets, including Hampers, Stripes American Diner, Zefferelli's and Jackets No Ties.

"Following the refurbishment, we reopened at the main refectory again in May. Between May and September sales at the site have been totally turned around," Sarah Swan, head of catering at the college, told Caterer.

"The branded offers have been introduced at low capital cost to the college, with results we never dreamed of."

Ms Swan revealed that in May 1994 sales at the refectory stood at £19,486, whereas in May this year they had leapt by 73% to £33,679. Similarly, in June sales were up 65% compared with the year before, at £27,964 compared with £16,886. And in July the refectory made £19,816, compared with £12,893 the year before.

"We aim to hit nil subsidy by the New Year and I would take issue with other contract caterers who claim their brands have tried and tested better," added Ms Swan.