Recently in Compass Category

So the heads of state attending the high-profile G20 summit in London's Docklands are to get down to the not inconsiderable task of saving the world economy today.

Well good luck with that one. But it appears the G20 circus has been both feast and famine for the world leaders and those in the hospitality industry.

There was some trouble in the City yesterday affecting Compass Group and Lexington, while later the likes of Barack Obama enjoyed a slap up meal at Downing Street prepared by Jamie Oliver.

The Ritz hotel was one of many taking no chances, electing to board up and hucker down. And thanks to Vacherin for their snap from one of their contracts yesterday that you can see at the top of this entry.

At the Excel Centre at London's Docklands where the summit proper is taking place, it's good news for Compass Group, whose Leith's brand is looking after the feeding duties. However it's not so good for Creativevents who run a number of fixed sites, a stand and on-floor catering at the exhibtion centre on a standard day and have been, essentially, kicked out for the duration.

All around caterers have had to adapt, with Elior, which has many contracts within the City, ordering in extra stock and changing some menus to temporarily make more use of dry and frozen goods in case protests affect deliveries.

Still, with most City clients facing lockdown on the premises, Simon Titchner, managing director at ISS Eaton, candidly told Kitchen Rat: "Actually the protests helped us yesterday as takings were up across the business as all customers used their internal restaurant facilities as they could not go out."

Feast and famine. Feast and famine.

G20 Sumit website>>

World leaders start G20 summit>>

Vacherin appoints head chef for first public restaurant venture>>

Recession presents "great opportunity" for contract caterers to prove worth>>

So you think keeping your customers happy is increasingly hard in this recessional times, do you?

Well how about the prospect of setting back the peace process in Northern Ireland a few years, over something as seemingly innocuous as your choice of flowers? Not grumbling now are you...

One shit,shit, shit! moment happened to Colin Prentice and team at the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont in the not too distant past.

Prentice and his team, professional to their core, provide a range of services as Eurest Services at the Parliment Buildings in east Belfast, including putting out the flowers.

However, on one occassion a garland of lilies was put up in the building as part of the day-to-day service. Very nice, you may think, but the lilly is of course a symbol for nationalists of the Easter Rising. Not so nice.

Luckily it was spotted and removed before politicans from either side of the political divide noticed, avoiding any rumptions, accusations of favouritism or broadsides from Ian Paisley.

Although people love their coffee, I doubt you get that sort of fallout if you added milk by mistake to a customer's Americano in Starbucks.

For more see A Minute on the Clock this week in Caterer.

Compass Group wins £500m racecourse deal>>

Catering giants tune into FM for revenue growth>>

Compass creates one-stop shop in Eurest Services>>

Recent coverage in Caterer about the renewed interest amongst contract caterers in providing facilities management services bought things full-circle for one reader.

While conceding there was certainly a demand for facilities management from some clients - and adding that the market had developed significantly since, with many professional managers now in the field - our source couldn't help but think back to a time when FM, in most people's minds, was simply a radio frequency.

"Some 24 years ago Compass challenged existing operations managers and their bosses to go out and 'sell' - cleaning & security contracts - with great kudos afforded to any that managed this feat.

"Lifelong caterers received an hour or so of 'training' to prepare us with resource to provide arms-length consultant expertise. The negative energy this created was something to behold. The result was loss of focus on the existing business and loss of key accounts and managers."

Still, with the recent win of National Grid and an extension to their Shell contract, as well as ComputaCentre, it's fair to say Compass's new FM strategy appears to be paying off this time.

Compass creates one-stop shop with Eurest Services>>

Caterers tune into FM for revenue growth>>

The school dinners journey instigated by Jamie Oliver may be far from over, but Kitchen Rat hears that the end is nigh for school catering brand Scolarest.

Having received a very public kicking at the height of the school dinners story in 2005 - Turkey Twizzlers becoming a catch-all phrase for all that was wrong with the system - "new Compass", as it essentially is now under Roy Gardner and Richard Cousins, has decided to make a break with the past and phase out the Scolarest brand.

So, before term is out, the sector's biggest private caterer will be trading as Chartwells, a brand that is active in the USA and until now had been reserved for the independent school market in the UK.

It would seem, Jamie Oliver casts a long shadow...

Sodexo's Jane Bristow on a mixed future for school catering>> 

Graysons appoints ex-Compass education man to head schools business>>

Compass wins £4.5m school dinner contract>>

It seems Compass Group has had a bit of seasonal cheer of its own, with rumours abound that the catering giant has sewn-up a seven-year deal at Goodwood in East Sussex.

Compass, which in 2007 signed a one-year extention at the estate, is believed to have landed the £7m-a-year turnover hospitality contract at the site, which features a racecourse and Goodwood House, under a deal that will see it invest £1m in the facilities there.

Compass has been invovled with Goodwood, which is home of motor-racing events the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival, since 1987 and has been running its exisiting contract under its Payne & Gunter brand.

Both Compass and Goodwood declined to comment.

Mike Stapleton to leave Compass after nearly a decade>>

Compass signed up at Cardiff City FC?>>

Belt tightening puts squeeze on contractors>>

News reaches Kitchen Rat that former Everson Hewett boss Stuart Everson has returned to the world of contract catering after a break by accepting the role of chairman at Jill Bartlett.

His arrival is timely as Jill Bartlett is mobilising one of its most prestigious contracts yet, the feeding of staff at the Guardian News and Media's new headquarters at King's Place in London's King's Cross.

Everson Hewett, created by former Compass employees Stuart Everson and Jon Hewett, was, rather neatly, bought by Compass Group in Febraury 2004 as part of its fine dining operation.

Everson went on to run Compass's Baxter & Platts business before leaving Compass last year.

Everson Hewett as a brand, like Baxter & Platts, have subsequently been phased out by Compass, which unified its fine dinning activities under its Restaurant Associates brand. 

Stuart's input will no doubt be useful in a year that has seen Jill Bartlett step up a gear with deals to cater at magazine publisher Emap on top of an extention at law firm Shearman & Sterling.

Boris Johnson: hardworking mayor of London>>

Contract caterers feeling the pinch>>

With the January transfer window fast approaching the football rumour-mill is in full flow, but this year it seems a member of the catering premier league is included as well.

Word reaches Kitchen Rat that the UK's largest contract caterer Compass Group has won a £4m annual turnover catering deal at Championship team Cardiff City FC.

Cardiff, managed by Dave Jones and beaten FA Cup finalists earlier this year, move into a new state-of-the-art stadium next August, which is when the Compass contract will likely start.

Compass already provides catering services at Chelsea and Southampton football clubs under its FMC brand, so should be well versed in meeting football fans' expectations.

Compass Group retains contract with Wellcome Trust>>

Sodexo nets £38m catering deal with Newcastle United>>