Virgin Trains has awarded DHL Supply Chain a £30m three-year contract to manage on-board catering services on the West Coast Main Line.
“Our goal is to be the best and most innovative rail franchise operator in the UK,” said Martin Phillips, head of catering logistics at Virgin Trains.
“To do this we needed a strategic partner who shares our ambitions and DHL proved a great cultural fit. By focusing on our core competencies I’m confident that we can deliver something truly exceptional.”
More than 30 million passengers a year used the West Coast Main Line which links London to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. One of the first projects will be to source and plan menus to mark two upcoming events: The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and The World Cup in Rio.
DHL said it would implement a number of green initiatives to support Virgin’s environmental agenda, while deploying its ‘Focus’ warehouse management system solution to drive stock transparency.
Paul Richardson, managing director of specialist services at DHL Supply Chain said: “I’m delighted that Virgin has awarded DHL its first rail catering contract. By applying our first-hand knowledge of the airline, public sector and retail industries, we aim to redefine the customer experience, from top quality dining to applying the latest market trends in the food-to-go arena.”
