Mitie leap in sales figures

Mitie Catering saw turnover grow by more than £2m during the six months to 30 September, its parent company, support services group Mitie said today.

During the period the business increased turnover to £6.5m, from £4.4m at the same point last year.

The growth comes largely from winning a series of contracts, particularly in London, where a subsidiary was set up earlier this year.

Contracts in the capital include managing food and drink in the restaurants and room service at the 266-bedroom Le Meridien Piccadilly hotel.

The London division also won deals at the European headquarters of property firm GVA Grimley in Mayfair and with pharmaceutical firm IMS Healthcare, said Mitie.

Robin Hay, managing director of Mitie Catering, said there were a number of large contracts in the capital still in the pipeline.

He also hoped to be able to announce in January plans for a new subsidiary covering the north of England and Scotland.

"It is still our strategic intent to create a catering subsidiary to be based in the north of England," he said.

The parent company, Mitie Group, reported pre-tax profits up by 22.1% to £22.5m.

At the company's full-year results, for the year to 31 March, the catering division reported turnover of £10.6m, from £4.2m in 2003.

by Nic Paton

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