Elior UK has been appointed as Lincoln City Football Club’s new catering partner in a five-year deal worth £3.5m.
With catering services including matchday hospitality, matchday retail as well as conference and banqueting, Elior will be a fully integrated partner at the LNER Stadium, which ordinarily welcomes over 9,000 spectators every matchday.
Elior was awarded the contract after impressing the Club both with its outstanding track record in the stadia market and its innovative approach to food service.
As part of its commitment to bringing the very best food and drink offer to the Club, the deal includes significant investment to upgrade the existing kitchens and develop the retail concourse ready for the start of the 2021/22 season. With safety being at the forefront as spectators return, Elior will also introduce click and collect orders through their digital app and cashless payments across all services.
Kenny Finlayson, Managing Director at Elior, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lincoln City FC as their new catering partner at the LNER Stadium. The Club have a clear vision for catering at the stadium, and we are looking forward to working closely with them to deliver it over the coming months and years. From championing local produce to introducing high street inspired offers, our goal is to create fantastic food and beverage experiences for all spectators, guests, and visitors to the stadium.
Liam Scully, Chief Executive at Lincoln City Football Club, said: “We look forward to working with the team at Elior with our joint aims of enhancing the fan experience and full catering offer at LNER stadium”.
“To reach this outcome, we undertook a rigorous and highly competitive tender process that included bids from a range of national, regional, and local providers. Elior really stood out, including exemplary testimonials from current partners and a proven track record working with the local supply chain.”
Leading the way in sports and stadia contract catering, Elior has won a number of prestigious awards in recent years. These include Stadia of the Year, Sports & Leisure Catering Awards. Elior UK Star Site, Best Specialist Entertainment Venue Awards, Best Bar None, National Champion, Best Bar None.