Swiss onboard products and services provider gategroup has won a contract with Virgin Atlantic Airways to provide end-to-end catering services for the airline's long-haul operations from the UK.
The agreement, worth CHF40 million to CHF50 million per annum, is for services on Virgin’s flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow. The contract will take effect from June 1 this year for three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.
Three gategroup brands are involved in providing the services: Pourshins for supply chain management; Supplair for off-airport food assembly; and Gate Gourmet for catering and provisioning. Pourshins and Supplair will manage the menu and service design concept as well as the total food sourcing and distribution. Gate Gourmet will provide the ‘last mile’ handling services to and from the aircraft through airport-based facilities, which will include transport, packing and equipment processing.
"We are very pleased to be extending our relationship with Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading airlines," commented gategroup’s chief executive officer Andrew Gibson. He added: "We have been able to offer Virgin Atlantic an innovative solution which is leading edge and meets the airline's high-quality brand expectations."
Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer of Virgin Atlantic Airways, said: "Over the last few months we've run an open and competitive process to select a supplier for our in-flight catering needs from the UK. We are delighted to have been able to structure this innovative approach to providing the best for our customers with gategroup."
Zurich-based gategroup already services Virgin Atlantic Airways at all of its US stations, in India and Australia.
Virgin Atlantic has a fleet of 37 aircraft and operates 34 long-haul services around the world and carries 5.5 million passengers a year.
