Elior scores £3.5m LNER Stadium contract

Elior UK has been appointed as Lincoln City Football Club's new catering partner in a five-year deal worth £3.5m.

The company will oversee catering services including matchday hospitality and retail, as well as conference and banqueting at the LNER Stadium, which ordinarily welcomes over 9,000 spectators every matchday.

The deal will include significant investment to upgrade the existing kitchens and develop the retail concourse ready for the 2021/22 season. Elior will also introduce click-and-collect orders through its digital app and cashless payments across all services.

Kenny Finlayson, managing director at Elior, said: "We are delighted to be working with Lincoln City FC as their new catering partner at the LNER Stadium. The club have a clear vision for catering at the stadium, and we are looking forward to working closely with them to deliver it over the coming months and years. From championing local produce to introducing high street inspired offers, our goal is to create fantastic food and beverage experiences for all spectators, guests, and visitors to the stadium."

Liam Scully, chief executive at Lincoln City Football Club, said: "We look forward to working with the team at Elior with our joint aims of enhancing the fan experience and full catering offer at LNER stadium.

"To reach this outcome, we undertook a rigorous and highly competitive tender process that included bids from a range of national, regional, and local providers. Elior really stood out, including exemplary testimonials from current partners and a proven track record working with the local supply chain."

Elior's other stadium contracts include the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford, the BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh and the Glasgow Rangers FC Ibrox Stadium.