Lancashire Cricket has formalised a five-year agreement with a global hospitality provider to elevate the food offering at Emirates Old Trafford.
This new partnership is set to commence with the upcoming IT20 fixture between England and Australia, a sold-out event that will serve as the initial collaborative endeavour between the two entities.
The new agreement encompasses catering services for both conferences and events, in addition to match-day hospitality. A workforce of approximately 150 staff will be engaged to facilitate these services. The relationship aims to bring innovative and diverse menu options to Emirates Old Trafford, a venue that has seen a £75 million redevelopment over the last 15 years.
Sodexo Live! will oversee the culinary direction, with Executive Head Chef Andy Hare leading the initiative. Hare will also conduct a culinary training programme for the existing culinary team, including training at other associated venues and potentially at the esteemed Lenôtre Culinary School in Paris. This specialised institution focuses on culinary arts, baking, pastry, restaurant management, and sommelier skills.
Claire Morris, CEO of Sodexo Live! UK&I, remarked, “This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to bring our food expertise in event catering and hospitality to one of the North West of England’s most iconic global venues. Furthermore, we feel incredibly proud to be selected as the club’s first ever Official Culinary Partner in its 160-year history. We thank Lancashire Cricket for putting its trust in us as our Experience Makers plan to deliver a standout service.”
Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive at Lancashire Cricket, noted, “Sodexo Live! is a worldwide hospitality brand, with a proven track record of enhancing culinary experiences across sports venues, conference centres, and global events. Over the past 12 years, we have quadrupled in size and now require an enhanced platform to focus on the next stage of our growth. We know there is an increasing demand for varied, creative, and distinctive menus that are tailor-made for different audiences across a range of events at Emirates Old Trafford. We believe Sodexo Live! has the expertise and vision to make a real difference to our food offering and enhance the whole event experience across cricket, conferences, and concerts at the venue.”
Globally, Sodexo Live! supports some of the most well-known and high-profile sports clubs, events, and stadia. In the UK, it partners with various football clubs and prestigious venues such as the Ascot Racecourse and the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Internationally, it provides services for events such as The French Open, the Tour de France, the Miami Open, and several F1 events, in addition to serving stadia like the Hard Rock Stadium and the Caesars Superdome.
The collaboration between Lancashire Cricket and Sodexo Live! marks a significant step forward in providing exceptional hospitality services at Emirates Old Trafford, promising an elevated dining experience for all attendees.