Autograph Foodservice boosts Tesco contract

Autograph Foodservice has strengthened its relationship with Tesco in a deal that takes the value of its contract with the supermarket giant to more than £21m.

The contract caterer, part of Initial Catering Services, will feed staff at 13 Tesco distribution centres, serving some 1.5 million meals to the supermarket's employees each year over the next three years.

Autograph, which began its relationship with the supermarket group in January 2007 running seven sites, has picked up the new deal after a war of words between Tesco and previous contractor Catermasters broke out in April.

Catermasters, which was looking after 13 distribution sites in an arrangement worth £6m in turnover, claimed it had quit after Tesco failed to honour its commitments, a claim described by the retailer at the time as "nonsense".

Under the terms of the new deal, Autograph will provide breakfast, lunch, mid-shift and night meals to Tesco staff 364 days a year, as well as a vending service.

Jenny Shurmer, operations director at Autograph, said: "The extension is recognition of the hard work the team has put in this year and we are looking forward to working closely with Tesco over the coming months."

Catering at Tesco's other 11 distribution sites is provided by Seven Day Catering.

Autograph has also recruited two business development managers from rival Mitie Catering. Theresa Bell will be responsible for the South and South-west of England and held a similar business development role at Mitie. Neil Hindle, who was regional sales director at Mitie Catering, will look after the north of England and Scotland.

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By Chris Druce

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