Elior UK has been awarded a 10-year contract extension by Scottish Rugby which will see the caterer continue to provide first-rate corporate hospitality, conference and event and matchday catering at BT Murrayfield.
The new contract, which was signed following a rigorous tender process, is one of the largest in the UK stadia sector. The extension continues a successful seven-year relationship in which Elior has assisted Scottish Rugby in substantially growing its commercial income.
The new agreement will see Elior’s existing operating brand, ‘Murrayfield Experience’, evolve and rebrand as ‘Scottish Rugby Hospitality’.
Stronmagachan stovies, Argyll smoked salmon, Tomintoul venison and pork from the Dourie Farm in Newton Stewart have all appeared on BT Murrayfield menus during Elior’s tenure and the new offer will retain this strong focus on local, seasonal Scottish ingredients.
In addition, investment made by Elior will be used to develop the stadium’s hospitality and conference suites; creating enhanced modern facilities and providing innovative corporate matchday entertainment. Elior will also support the setup of new bar facilities around the stadium and implement new technology to simplify operations and improve the ongoing customer experience.
Catherine Roe, chief executive of Elior UK, says, “For seven years, Elior has been proud to serve the home of Scottish rugby by promoting quality local produce, providing exceptional customer experiences and growing Scottish Rugby’s commercial income. This new contract and investment gives us the opportunity to turn those strides into leaps and create memorable experiences for conference delegates, entertainment guests and rugby supporters for years to come.”
Andrew Healy, finance director at Scottish Rugby adds, “Scottish Rugby wants every visitor at BT Murrayfield to have a great experience, especially on matchdays. We are therefore delighted to continue working with Elior to enable us to deliver a high-quality hospitality offer together with a wide range of food and drink for our supporters at matches. The stadium also offers first-class facilities for conferences, meetings, weddings, dinners, lunches and other events on non-matchdays, and we are again delighted that Elior will be working with us to offer these to an ever wider audience. As a governing body, we need to look to maximize all our revenue streams to ensure money can be reinvested back into the sport and this significant long-term deal assists us in doing that.”
Elior will continue to offer cooking skills to Scottish Rugby academy players and support Scottish Rugby’s nominated charities in fundraising activities throughout the year.
