World leading energy and transport organisation, ALSTOM, have signed a five-year deal with vending operator, Springbank Industries.
The agreement, which runs until 2012, will provide a fully automated catering service at the company’s Rugby site, which employs 900 people. ALSTOM first approached Springbank in 2001 after reviewing their catering function and now has 25 machines across the site, housed in professional shopfitted units.
Potential annual hot drinks sales are now over 500,000, with ALSTOM now providing free hot drinks for all staff, which has seen the number rise by 50% per week. Overall purchases through automated catering now totals 600,000 products per annum.
Estates manager at ALSTOM, Jane Lilley comments: “We made the transition from traditional catering with a restaurant back in 2001. The restaurant was carrying a high subsidy with comparatively few employees using it. Vending was clearly the right choice. It addresses the needs of the whole workforce, and we now able to supply 24/7 catering on site.
“We’ve always had a good relationship with Springbank and they were the first choice when renewing the contract. They have the experience and infrastructure to provide a long-term facilities management in a smart shopfitted retail-style environment.”
Paul Tildesley, regional director at Springbank Industries comments on the contract: “Having worked with ALSTOM for several years, we were thrilled to secure this five year deal. With industry in general, we have seen a switch to more and more moving away from providing traditional restaurant services, to more flexible and cost effective automated restaurant services – without the loss of quality and choice.”
