Partner Article

Sodexo prepares to kick on

With relegation all but a distant memory, Newcastle United’s return to the Premiership has left it’s catering and hospitality partner in confident mood for its own prospects next season.

Sodexo Prestige - which handles match-day catering as well as corporate hospitality at St James’ Park - lamented an approximate 30% drop in takings on Barrack Road this season following the club’s fall from football’s top table and a plunge in trade from corporate events at the stadium.

However, with 52,000 fans expected at every game at St. James’ Park next season and the recovery well underway, managing director David Johnson expects the conference and banqueting business to return to winning ways.

He told bdaily: “With our promotion, next season we are extremely excited with the prospects of our hospitality and public business returning back to it’s strong position similar to the 2008/2009 season.

“We have already experienced over the last two trading months very strong conference and banqueting business, which has surpassed all expectations.”

Sodexo’s plans to boost its retail activity throughout the ground - which will be complemented with new branding across all 14 public bars - are already underway.

Mr Johnson said: “There are signs of green shoots and we are extremely optimistic that, with the positive feedback from this season, we will see a far greater interest from businesses around the North East for our corporate hospitality.”

Meanwhile, the company has outlined the North East as a key area for its future growth as it begins work on a new £5m contract in the region.

The contract with Tyne & Wear Museums will see it handle catering and hospitality at events across the group’s portfolio which includes Great North Museum, the Laing art gallery, the Discovery Museum and Segadunum.

“Mobilisation of the four new museums during the month of March went extremely well,” said Mr. Johnson.

“Already in the short period of time almost £55,000 worth of business has been confirmed.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .