Foodservice forum: 2024
How was 2024 for your business and the industry?
Angus Brydon
Managing director, BM Caterers
BM has enjoyed a highly successful 2024, marked by growth, accolades and new initiatives that reflect our values. Throughout the year we have seen significant geographical expansion and surpassed our projected growth targets, demonstrating both the strength and adaptability of our business model.
Our dedication to fostering a positive workplace culture and supporting our people has been recognised with the achievement of a two-star rating in the Best Companies survey, reflecting high levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. Our Glassdoor rating has reached 4.4 stars, the highest in our sector, showcasing positive employee feedback and reinforcing our reputation as a desirable place to work.
We are also excited to have formed a meaningful partnership with Luminary Bakery within BM, enabling us to support social enterprises and empower communities.
Diversification has been a real focus for us, particularly through the expansion of our Atelier business, which provides clients with off-site production for on-site solutions. This model not only enhances service flexibility but also broadens the scope of our client offerings. We’ve really ramped up our offering and now service almost 20 contracts from these spaces.
The return to office work has been substantial this year, driving growth in our commercial business as more organisations require high-quality, flexible catering solutions.
Additionally, a slowing of inflation has allowed us to better protect our clients’ investments in catering, ensuring that we deliver value and stability even in challenging economic conditions.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have remained a priority, as our clients increasingly seek partners that share their commitment to environmental and social responsibility. By staying ahead in these areas, BM not only supports clients’ ESG goals but also reinforces our own standards for ethical and sustainable practices.
Overall, 2024 has been a year of growth, recognition and continued commitment to innovation and people-first practices at BM, positioning us strongly for the future.
Jason Mumby
Client development and strategy director, Freemans Event Partners
I can’t be the only one thinking ‘where have the last 12-months gone?!’ But here we are, at the end of a very busy and hugely exciting year for the event sector.
At Freemans Event Partners, we’ve implemented some huge developments across the industry that are going to re-shape the way food and drink is consumed at events going forward, such as providing well-known high-street brands with a platform to operate at some of the world’s most famous venues. These include our rollout of Costa Coffee outlets across official venues for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic games; and the installation of our award-winning Food Village at Lord’s Cricket Ground, revolutionising the matchday experience by using cutting-edge technology to cut queue times in half.
Our continued commitment to sustainability, meanwhile, was emphasised at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit through our Zero Zone. This is a dedicated area that is powered by hybrid battery generators, featuring locally-sourced and primarily plant-based food options, and 100% plastic-free packaging.
The wider industry has enjoyed some truly ground-breaking moments this year too. These included Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, with multiple nights at iconic venues across the UK including Wembley and Murrayfield; a showcase of elite American sport in the form of the Major League Baseball at the London Stadium, between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies; and the aforementioned Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, a stunning exhibition of the very best athletes at the top of their game, all of which we were involved in.
We’re looking forward to carrying this momentum into the new year and have some incredibly exciting developments in the pipeline for 2025 that we’ll be able to shout about in the coming months. Perhaps the most exciting of these is Freemans’ 50th anniversary, set to be a milestone year for our business, as we look to celebrate just how far we have come. We will also map out the next 50 years, looking at how things like AI and next-gen tech are going to truly revolutionise our business and the industry.
Oh, and there’s also the small matter of the Oasis reunion to look forward to!
Lynsey O’Keefe
Chief executive officer, corporate services and energy and resources, Sodexo UK and Ireland
2024 has been a strong year for Sodexo. Our dedication to exceptional service delivery and strong partnerships has yielded significant results. We've successfully retained numerous complex contracts with long-standing clients and expanded our portfolio with new business wins across key market sectors.
This success has been underpinned by three core pillars: people power: our talented colleagues consistently deliver outstanding service across 2,000 client sites.
Hospitality mindset: our food and facilities management services are delivered with a hospitality-centric approach, enhancing client productivity, engagement and wellbeing.
Purpose-driven impact: we are committed to making a positive social and environmental impact through our operations and supply chain.
As consumer preferences evolve, we're adapting to meet the growing demand for flexible, personalised and sustainable food services. Digital technology plays a crucial role in enabling seamless experiences, from app-based ordering to transparent food information.
We prioritise consumer wellbeing and informed decision-making. Our commitment to sustainable food practices is unwavering. We're actively working towards a 70% reduction in the carbon footprint of our main meals by 2030, while ensuring these options are both delicious and affordable. By focusing on taste, affordability and environmental impact, we're driving real change in the food industry.
You may also be interested in…
