Three contracts announced for Avenance… and other food service news

Three contracts announced for Avenance Avenance has won three separate contracts for services to the Council for the Central Laboratory of Research Councils. The three-year contracts are expected to turn over about £2m together. One contract, for hospitality services at the Cosener's House residential facility, has been extended, and the other two contracts are for the Rutherford Appleton laboratory and a new-build guesthouse.

Eurest to feed call centre workers
Eurest has won a five-year contract with Garlands Call Centres in the Tees Valley region. The company will provide catering services at three centres in Hartlepool Marina, Middlesbrough and Stockton. Worth about £700,000, the contract started in May. Eurest has invested £150,000 in equipment and materials prior to the launch.

Sodexho recruits ex-Compass manager Sodexho has appointed Ian Thomas as parent account manager. The newly created position carries responsibility for maximising sales with international organisations. Thomas joins the group from Compass, where he was a managing director. He will report directly to UK and global development director Richard Jackson.

Scolarest to keep Westminster school meal contract Westminster City Council has renewed Scolarest's catering contract for the borough's schools. The new five-year contract is worth £12m in total turnover. More than 1.4 million meals per year will be cooked and served at 39 primary schools and two secondary schools. The meals will meet the nutrient-based standards, which will apply from 2008.

Digby Trout wins £6m Harewood House contract Digby Trout Restaurants, part of Elior, is to provide catering facilities at the newly refurbished Courtyard and Lakeside Terrace Café at Harewood House in Leeds. The contract is expected to turn over £6m over its five years. The Grade I-listed Stables Courtyard, built in 1755, has been part of a £3.5m restoration programme supported by development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Aramark secures partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers
Caterer Aramark has secured a five-year £25m deal to cater for professional services company PricewaterhouseCoopers at seven sites across the UK. Each location will service between 200 to 3,000 people, and a further 30 locations will receive deliveries from Aramark's Refreshment Services business. Simon Carey, business development at Aramark, said: "We are delighted to have been selected to provide our services to one of the UK's largest professional services businesses."

By Alix Young

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