Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Marc Cooper as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), a vital position focused on advancing the company’s ambitious goals for technology, data, and digital innovation.

Cooper brings over 20 years of experience in driving digital and technology transformations across various sectors, including food service, telecommunications, travel, and financial services. His extensive background includes senior leadership positions at global brands like McDonald’s, EE, Epson, and British Airways.

As Senior Director of Global Digital Product & Experience at McDonald’s.

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Westbury Street Holdings (WSH), the parent company of BaxterStorey, has completed the acquisition of workplace catering provider Genuine Dining.

WSH emphasised that Genuine Dining will maintain its independent structure following the acquisition, which was finalised last week.

It has been disclosed that Luke Johnson, chairman and majority shareholder of Genuine Dining, is stepping down from the business after 14 years of active involvement.

In its most recent reported accounts.

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Social Pantry, the London-based independent caterer led by Alex Head, is thrilled to announce that it has achieved B Corp certification.

With one of the highest B Corp scores in UK hospitality, Social Pantry is now officially recognised as a company that upholds high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This achievement integrates Social Pantry into the B Corp global movement, which leverages business as a force for good.

Founded in 2011 by Alex Head.

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Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Lynsey O’Keefe as its new CEO for its corporate services and energy & resources business segments. These segments provide workplace services, facilities management, and food services to approximately 670 sites in the UK and Ireland, working with some of the world's most recognisable brands.

Lynsey O'Keefe brings extensive experience across food services, workplace management, and facilities management in multiple sectors. As the new CEO for Sodexo's corporate services and energy & resources business segments, she will be responsible for driving the company's continued growth in the workplace.

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SSP Group has appointed Satya-Christophe Menard as the new CEO of its Continental Europe division.

Menard joins SSP with two decades of experience in the service industry, bringing significant expertise in the food and coffee sectors across both European and North American markets. His most recent role was president of the out-of-home division at JDE Peet’s, a leading coffee company. Prior to that, he served as the global CEO of Sodexo’s schools and universities division and held various leadership positions within Sodexo's international operations.

With extensive experience in developing profitable growth strategies for both B2B and B2C companies.

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Sodexo Live!, a global leader in hospitality services for the sports and leisure industry, is excited to announce a new five-year partnership with Lancashire Cricket at Emirates Old Trafford. As part of the agreement, Sodexo Live! will manage catering for conferences and events, along with providing match day hospitality.

Sodexo Live! aims to establish a robust casual workforce of around 150 individuals from the Greater Manchester and North West region, supporting the local economy and strengthening community ties.

The food operations will be led by Sodexo Live! executive head chef.

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BaxterStorey has secured a five-year catering services contract with Coleg Sir Gâr, a further education college in Carmarthenshire, which operates across five campuses in the county.

The hospitality company will manage restaurants, cafes, retail outlets, hospitality services, and vending across all five campuses, catering to over 5,000 students, 1,000 employees, and visitors.

As part of the agreement, BaxterStorey will make a significant investment in Coleg Sir Gâr’s catering facilities to enhance the customer experience.

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Sodexo Live! has extended its partnership with the Henley Royal Regatta for an additional five years, following a year of record-breaking sales at the event.

Since 2013, Sodexo Live! has played a crucial role in enhancing the Henley Royal Regatta experience, managing the Fawley Meadows site to provide exceptional food and hospitality. As the world's premier rowing event, the regatta draws thousands of visitors each year, showcasing exciting races featuring both Olympic rowers and emerging crews.

Under the renewed contract.

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Seasoned has successfully gained approved supplier status at both the British Museum and Whitechapel Gallery after completing formal tender processes.

Since 2015, Seasoned has collaborated with the British Museum, organising a variety of daytime and evening events for commercial clients and corporate sponsors. These events have taken place across the Museum’s uniquely versatile spaces, including the iconic two-acre Great Court, the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery, the Enlightenment Gallery, the Nereid Gallery, the Wellcome Trust Gallery, and a suite of modern conference facilities, such as the sleek BP Lecture Theatre.

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Nestlé Professional continues its focus on inspiring young people through its Choose Hospitality Pledge program, by partnering with Sodexo to deliver mass career workshops at Sodexo Live! venue partners, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Everton FC’s Goodison Park and Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s American Express Stadium. Alongside this, another workshop at St James' Park in Newcastle which is due to happen in the autumn term.

The Choose Hospitality Pledge career workshops engaged up to 250 secondary school pupils across the three stadia locations during the summer term.

The Choose Hospitality Pledge was established to help breathe new life into the sector by inspiring the next generation of talent.

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Restaurant Associates has welcomed nutritionist and dietician Clare Gray to its growing team of chef partners.

Gray will join the likes of Michel Roux, Sabrina Ghayour, Jason Atherton, Dipna Anand, restaurant group Native, Restaurant Associates’ other chef partners.

With health and wellbeing becoming increasingly important to guests, Gray's 15 years of experience as a registered dietitian and professional chef will help guide the foodservice provider in developing healthy and sustainable menus.

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SSP, Starbucks, and Heathrow have launched the UK's busiest Starbucks store at Terminal 5. The new location features 50 seats and nine coffee machines, capable of serving hundreds of travelers every hour as they head to their gates.

The coffee shop, situated in the airside departures area of Terminal 5, was officially opened just in time for the peak summer travel season. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by SSP Group CEO Patrick Coveney, UK and Ireland CEO Kari Daniels, Starbucks EMEA President Duncan Moir, and Heathrow Retail Director Fraser Brown. The store is designed with two separate counters to efficiently serve busy travelers.

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Independents by Sodexo has secured a £4.6 million, five-year contract to provide catering services at St Leonards School in St Andrews.

Founded in 1887, St Leonards School in St Andrews has 600 pupils aged 5-18, including 150 boarders.

Starting on 20 August, the contract will enable Independents by Sodexo to introduce a new menu for pupils and staff at St Leonards School, providing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and options for morning and afternoon breaks.

Sodexo has committed to making 33% of its main meals plant-based by 2025.

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Sodexo has announced a new collaboration with acclaimed chef Kate Austen and its contemporary workplace dining offer, Modern Recipe.

Earlier this year Kate, recognised as one of the industry’s rising stars, appeared on the BBC’s Great British Menu and became the first female chef in the show’s 19-year history to win the main course dish.

Her experience includes Restaurant AOC in Copenhagen where she was the world’s youngest female head chef of a two Michelin star restaurant. Kate has also worked as a sous chef at the three Michelin star Restaurant Frantzen in Sweden and as a senior development chef for Gordon Ramsay.

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Catering giant Compass Group UK & Ireland has completed its acquisition of CH&Co.

The deal was first announced in January this year. estimated at £475m.

It involves integrating CH&Co’s portfolio of brands, such as Gather & Gather, Vacherin, and Company of Cooks, into Compass Group.

CH&CO oversees catering across various sectors including workplace, events, education, and healthcare, and has held a Royal Warrant since 2013.

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Grazing, a specialist in delivered-in office and venue catering, has secured a three-year contract with Workspace’s first conference centre and event space in the City of London.

Workspace, London's leading provider of flexible spaces, boasts over 60 locations across the capital. Their latest addition, 'Eventspace', is located within the newly refurbished ground floor of the stately Salisbury House.

Eventspace boasts a main conference area with a capacity of 160 people, designed to host networking events.

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Sodexo UK & Ireland has appointed Hayley Miller as regional marketing director – reporting to chief growth officer, Dan Weiss.

Hayley joins Sodexo from CH&Co. She joined the company in 2017 as marketing director and led its strategic rebranding and repositioning following extensive M&A activity. Hayley’s role at CH&Co also included the strategic development and execution of marketing plans for all its brands and driving its social media and digital marketing strategy.

Hayley has almost over 25 years’ experience in the foodservice sector including previous marketing roles at both Aramark and Elior.

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Elior UK has successfully secured a catering and cleaning contract with the James Hutton Institute in Scotland. The financial details of the contract remain undisclosed.

Under the agreement, the contract caterer will deliver services to the research organisation's two locations: one in Invergowrie near Dundee and the other in Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen.

The Hutton Institute conducts research focused on crops, soil, and land use with the aim of enhancing environmental security.

Elior's team.

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A collaboration between Sodexo UK & Ireland and social enterprise and educational charity Enactus UK & Ireland has led to the introduction of two new tasty dishes developed by refugees to the menus at Coventry University.

Student entrepreneurs from Aston University participated in the Action4Impact incubator project in 2023 pitching their Chance for Change cookbook. The project is led by Enactus Aston in partnership with Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation and is focused on empowering women and fighting food insecurity through innovation and support for young entrepreneurs.

Two of the dishes.

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BM Caterers has announced the successful acquisition of new contracts totaling over £10 million in the past six months. These contracts encompass a diverse range of clients spanning the legal, investment, real estate, and media sectors.

Among the newly acquired clients, based across various locations throughout the UK, are esteemed names including global real estate investor, developer, and manager Hines, reputable law firm Lewis Silkin, and renowned power tools business STIHL.

All contracts range from approximately one to three years in duration.

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