Facilities management firm Almeda has officially opened its first client restaurant as it seeks to reinvigorate the traditional staff canteen at businesses across the region.
The launch of the restaurant at Hanson UK’s shared service and IT centre in Chipping Sodbury, was the culmination of months of hard work and planning at Keynsham-based Almeda.
The firm opened a new catering division in January, adding it to its long-established total facilities management offering which works with blue-chip firms across the South West.
As well as assembling an experienced catering team to head the division – led by head of catering operations Gordon Cox – it also launched its ‘food with passion’ brand to reflect the department’s ethos and values.
It also has ambitious plans to launch the concept on the high street as a chain of Almeda restaurants.
International construction materials group Hanson UK worked closely with Almeda to completely renovate its in-house restaurant, with the family-run firm not just designing and building the space but also sourcing and cooking the food.
Almeda worked closely with Hanson and its employees to find out what the 300 staff on site wanted to eat, and created a menu based around their feedback.
Hanson UK chief executive officer Daniel Cooper cut the ribbon at the official opening with Almeda managing director Brady George, alongside staff and management from both companies.
Daniel Cooper said: “The launch of the new staff restaurant represents our vision here at Hanson, which is to lead and not follow and to provide our staff with the very best facilities and food.
“I would like to also take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Almeda and their staff for all of their hard work and for delivering what is a wonderful restaurant and facility.”
Hanson UK facilities manager Louise Pullen, who worked closely with Gordon Cox to open the new staff restaurant added: “We wanted to create something everybody at Hanson could be proud of and we have achieved that.
“It’s been a pleasure working with the team at Almeda to deliver a product that is original and gives our staff access to top quality food in an inspirational space.”
Almeda is now receiving interest from businesses and organisations looking to work with it to re-vamp their in-house restaurant facilities.
Brady George said: “We’ve been really privileged to have the opportunity to transform Hanson’s space.
“It’s been a great experience and we now have a product and vision that we can showcase. Health and wellbeing is one of the core aims of our catering division and we’re delighted to start being able to deliver fresh, local, organic and sustainably sourced food in an environment that staff can buy into and value.
“We expect many more organisations will engage with us to deliver something similar at their premises.”
Almeda is to invite food bloggers to an open day in June to sample the types of food which will be available under its improved menu offering.
Pictured at the opening of the Hanson UK staff restaurant, from left: Louise Pullen, Brady George and Daniel Cooper
