In Europe it has been a leader in contracted foodservice since 1991,with over £1.7bn in annual sales. With 47,000 employees and more than 11,500 restaurants and outlets, Elior serves 2.3 million guests every day, in 12 countries.

 

In the UK, Elior Group owns Avenance, operating in B & I; Eliance Restaurants, a company that specialises in catering at tourist attractions, leisure centres, department stores and transport venues. Digby Trout Restaurants, whose clients include the British Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Tower of London, the Wallace Collection and Liberty, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eliance Restaurants. Elior also own Azure, looking after the group's interests in sports and leisure venues.

 

Apart from being number four in the world, Elior is also the UK's fourth largest contract caterer, having built up through a number of acquisitions since 1992. It was streamlined in 2005 into two key operating companies, contract catering and specialist markets.

 

 With 600 contracts, Avenance had sales of £180 million last year.

 

In specialist markets Elior has targeted 40% growth in education, healthcare and defence contracts. Concession business is also on the hit list and while it will not be seeking opportunities in motorway sites due to scarce purchasing opportunities, it will be looking for business at airports, railways and museums. In 2005 it added a patisserie brand, Paul, to some concession sites, backed up by a central bakery in London. And it opened three franchised Puccino's coffee shops at railway stations.