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Developments at French catering firm Newrest were unfolding as the ITCA conference progressed. At a March 8 press conference on the trade floor, officials announced a “pan-European agreement” with the Netherlands based Supplair to develop new products for airline customers. The two firms will also bring in the manufacturing expertise of deSter, the tableware and amenity supplier that has been a partner with Supplair since late 2005. One of the first customers for the consortium is the UK based charter carrier First Choice. The carrier will work with the caterer Gate Gourmet, Supplair and Newrest’s logistics firm ILC to develop products and services. First Choice operates a fleet of 767s, 777s and has ordered approximately a dozen 787 widebodies. The airline has signed a “long term partnership for products, services and logistics.” At this year’s ITCA Conference, Newrest officials also announced that it has been selected as the “first bidder” for the minority ownership of a partially privatized Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering operation. Upon final approval by the kingdom’s government, the caterer will take a 49 percent stake in the operation with its local partner Al-Hokair, a hotel operation firm in Saudi Arabia. If approved the company will hold nearly half of the catering, technical and Skysales operations of Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering. |
