Sutcliffe wins battle for MoD contract

Sutcliffe Catering has retained its contract with the purchasing arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) following a retendering process.

Sutcliffe's South West and Wales division is to pick up the £1m contract to feed 6,000 workers at the MoD's Procurement Executive when it relocates from London to new office premises in Bristol in December. The new deal is for five years.

The South West division won the contract in a joint bid with facilities management company Serco, which will manage the whole site.

Two other companies, believed to be Gardner Merchant and Pall Mall Catering, were also shortlisted.

• Gardner Merchant yesterday held its penultimate Master Class '95 at its training centre in Kenley, Surrey. Chefs Paul and Jeanne Rankin passed on culinary tips to Gardner Merchant chefs from Northern Ireland and the Home Counties. The aim was to inspire innovation among the contractor's chefs.