Amadeus bolsters NEC with Barrel & Stone site in first for franchise operator

Foodservice operator Amadeus has bolstered its offering at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) with premium pizza brand Barrel & Stone.

The outlet, which will operate under Amadeus as a franchise location, will focus on hand-crafted stone-baked pizza, as well as craft beer, gelato and artisan coffee.

The Barrell & Stone brand currently operates in 97 sites in the UK -- including pubs and hotels. However its partnership with Amadeus marks the first standalone retail site in the company's portfolio.

"With all of our brands and retail units, now we are looking to bring the convenience and theatre of street food into the venue and our events. Barrel & Stone really appealed to us as a concept as it boasts premium pizzas with a street-food feel.

"The introduction of Barrel & Stone is just the beginning of our ambitious development plans to bring a wider range of authentic street food to the NEC in the coming months."

Russell Hardiman, managing director of Barrel & Stone, added: "We're really pleased to be working with Amadeus and to have launched our first standalone retail unit at the NEC. People visiting the venue can enjoy a quality, authentic Italian offering, either by sitting and relaxing in the restaurant or using the grab-and-go takeaway offering."

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