Sodexo Live! wins five-year contract with Lancashire Cricket at Emirates Old Trafford

Sodexo Live! has secured a five-year contract with Lancashire Cricket at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.

 

The sports and leisure caterer will be responsible for delivering conferences and events, as well as match day hospitality.

 

Sodexo Live! said it will build a casual workforce of roughly 150 people from the Greater Manchester and north west region to drive the local economy.

 

Executive head chef of Sodexo Live!, Andy Hare, will lead a culinary training programme for Lancashire Cricket’s existing chefs.

 

They will be invited to other Sodexo Live! partner venues, as well as on a potential trip to the Lenôtre Culinary School in Paris, which is owned by the caterer.

 

Dishes such as tandoori spiced cornfed chicken with Bombay spiced fondant potato, crispy hake ‘Kyiv’, and glazed cardamom and saffron custard tart have been added to the menu.

 

Sodexo Live! is also working with social enterprises such as Change Please coffee and Half the Story Biscuits to create employment and training opportunities for the homeless.

 

Claire Morris, chief executive of Sodexo Live! UK&I, said: "We are absolutely delighted to partner with Lancashire Cricket. This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to bring our food expertise in event catering and hospitality to one of the north west of England’s most iconic global venues.

 

“Furthermore, we feel incredibly proud to be selected as the club’s first ever official culinary partner in its 160-year history. We thank Lancashire Cricket for putting its trust in us as our experience makers plan to deliver a standout service.”  

 

Daniel Gidney, chief executive at Lancashire Cricket, added: “Over the past 12 years we have quadrupled in size and our scale now requires an enhanced platform to really focus on the next stage of our growth.

 

“We know there is an increasing demand for varied, creative and distinctive menus that are tailor-made for different audiences across a range of events that we hold at Emirates Old Trafford. We believe Sodexo Live! has the expertise and vision to make a real difference to our food offering and enhance the whole event experience across cricket, conferences and concerts at the venue.”

 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

Sodexo Live!’s portfolio includes Fulham FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Newcastle FC, Nottingham Forest FC and the Henley Royal Regatta, as well as international events such as the French Open at Roland Garros, the Tour de France, the Miami Open and F1 in Miami.