Churchill Catering secures £13m contract with Forestry England

Churchill Catering has secured a 10-year extension to its contract with Forestry England’s High Lodge cafe in Thetford Forest, worth £13m.

The catering company, owned by Vertas Group, will be investing over £300,000 into refurbishing the site, with new layouts, counters, flooring and furniture.

High Lodge’s menu will also be revamped to make the best use of local suppliers and reflect the seasonality of the area.

Matthew Jeffery, business development manager at Forestry England, said the extension followed a "competitive tender" where customer service and "positive enhancement" of the environment to eat in were key considerations in awarding the contract.

Liam Swift, associate director – operations at Vertas, said: “The café, grab and go and seasonal outlet will see significant investment to give customers a new and modern dining environment, with food and drinks to satisfy today's healthy lifestyles, and a focus on fresh and local produce and suppliers.”

Vertas acquired Churchill Catering in 2018.