Sodexo Health & Care extends long-standing contract with Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Sodexo Health & Care has secured an eight-year extension to its patient dining contract at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The foodservice giant has worked with Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust, for almost 30 years.

The new contract, which started on 1 April 2025, is valued at £24.8m and will take the partnership to 33 years by the end of the term.

Sodexo will continue to serve a selection of Apetito meals and in-house produced dishes that meet diverse dietary requirements, as well as cultural and religious needs.

In May, the menu was refreshed to include a dedicated finger food range for individuals living with dementia and a high-energy mini meal range for patients with reduced appetites.

All meals are prepared in the hospital’s central production kitchen and transported using specialist regeneration trolleys.

Kim Beevers, assistant director of facilities at DSFS, said: “We are delighted to continue working with Sodexo on our patient food and dining offer. Here at Chesterfield Royal Hospital we know how important nutritious and tasty food is to our patients, and how it can support and aid recovery, as well as improving overall health and wellbeing. We also know how proud our colleagues are to serve great food, catering to patients with different preferences and diets.

“We are really looking forward to hearing from our patients and colleagues on what we can change to improve our offer and working with Sodexo to make those changes that really benefit our patients and improve their catering and dining experience when being cared for in our hospital.”

Philip Leigh, chief executive at Health & Care, Sodexo UK & Ireland, added: “We know that good food and nutrition play a vital role in the patient journey, supporting recovery, improving wellbeing and enhancing the overall experience. This extended partnership with Chesterfield Royal Hospital gives us a valuable opportunity to further develop the dining offer. Working closely with DSFS and the Trust, we are committed to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that meet the diverse needs of patients.”

Sodexo was founded in Marseille, France, by Pierre Bellon in 1966.