Catering giant Compass has served up a feast of good results for the City. Three years on from profit warnings and a media grilling over its school dinners service, led by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, the firm announced half-year pre-tax profits of £387m. The world's biggest contract caterer has seen profits rise this year by 38%. The company, which employs 350,000 people, has benefited from the slump, as organisations turn to outsourcing their catering in a bid to make savings. It has also gained from lower staff turnover. Efforts to rejuvenate its school meals service have paid off; Chartwells, which is part of the group, recently announced its first contract extension with a local authority. Kent CC has signed a two-year contract extension worth £5.4m over two years. Mark Sleep, client services manager for Kent CC, said: ‘Meals provided by Chartwells meet the Government's food and nutrient standards and together we have placed great emphasis on ensuring our menus reflect what young people want to eat.'
