Centerplate soars with £1.5m Sunderland airshow catering contract
The three-year deal with the event organisers Sunderland Live follows a competitive tender and consolidates the caterer's presence in the north east, as last year Centerplate added Sage Gateshead to its client portfolio.
Jonathan Davies, commercial director at Centerplate's UK division and last year's winner of the Salesperson of the Year award at the inaugural Foodservice Cateys, described the airshow as a great opportunity to showcase the capability of Centerplate's outdoor event division.
- "The outdoor events team will have the support of our existing resources in Sunderland who will be working closely with them and local suppliers to provide an unrivalled catering service which will add to visitors' enjoyment of the event," he said.
At this year's event (25-27 July), Centerplate will be responsible for catering at the Hospitality Village, which includes three VIP suites, the installation of nine concession units in the general public areas of Cliffe Park, and the operation of three public bars.
The concessions will include a selection of Centerplate's own branded retail food outlets alongside a fish & chip shop and a noodle bar, which will include healthier and vegetarian options on its menu.
Centerplate will cater for the pilots participating in the airshow, and will use local suppliers for much of the sourcing.
Chris Alexander, chief operating officer at Sunderland Live, said: "Centerplate's innovative approach and their experience, expertise and insights in managing large-scale outdoor events match all of the criteria we were looking for in selecting a catering partner to deliver the food and service offering at the Sunderland International Airshow.
"It's also about balance. Having a global footprint means that Centerplate is ideally placed to cater for an event which draws an international audience, and they have an established presence at other high profile venues in Sunderland so they are also able to add that important local touch. This has enabled them to produce a variety of different menu options which will have a broad appeal."