Sodexo Live! bolsters Premier League offering with Nottingham Forest FC contract

Sodexo Live! has secured a five-year contract with Nottingham Forest Football Club.

The deal bolsters the sports and leisure caterer’s presence in the Premier League, following on from partnerships with Fulham FC, Newcastle United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC.

Sodexo Live! will deliver match-day retail and hospitality services, as well as non-match day sales, marketing and events to maximise the year-round value of the venue.

Nottingham Forest FC has also recently undertaken a multi-million pound refurbishment of its premium hospitality facilities at the City Ground, which will showcase a new menu led by Sodexo Live! executive head chef Darren Kelly.

Dishes such as broad bean and baby leek ravioli with toasted pine nuts, English pea and mint salsa, wild garlic foam and Cropwell Bishop blue cheese soufflé will be available alongside roasted rack of Herwick lamb with spiced kofta, charred baby gem, miso aubergine, coriander yoghurt, minted peas and smoked garlic pomme purée.

Sodexo Live! will also manage the renovated suites at City Ground, as well as the newly-added Trentside Lounge, which can host more than 550 guests for conferences and events.

The contract caterer has committed to creating around 15 permanent roles based at the stadium, as well as recruiting a casual workforce of roughly 500 staff from the wider Nottinghamshire area.

Claire Morris, chief executive of Sodexo Live! UK&I, said: “This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to bring our food expertise in retail, event catering and hospitality to one of the Premier League’s most historic clubs.”

Paul Bell, chief operating officer at Nottingham Forest Football Club, added: “This partnership will also bring the best possible service across the stadium and our brand-new hospitality lounges for this season. We look forward to working with Sodexo Live! and creating a positive impact to all supporters and guests who visit the City Ground.” 

Sodexo Live! has also partnered with sporting events such as the French Open at Roland Garros, the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Miami Open and the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, which will host the Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

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