Shropshire Star

£10m contracts prove tasty for Shropshire catering firm

Contract wins worth £10 million have boosted a Shropshire-based catering company, which has moved to a new home.

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MPM Catering has landed a renewed deal with the Birmingham-based NEC Group, and another with Cheshire County Show which will help deliver a £10 million boost to its turnover over the course of the next five years.

The move comes as the company aims to double its turnover figure in the same period, from its current starting position of £3.5 million a year.

To help with its expansion, MPM has completed the move to its new warehouse and offices on the Battlefield Enterprise Park in Shrewsbury.

It began with one warehouse in 2009, and grew to occupy five separate buildings on the Leaton Industrial Estate at Bomere Heath.

On Friday, the company welcomed Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski to officially cut the ribbon on its new premises.

"We are expanding, and are in the process of taking on three more members of staff which will take us to 15," said chief executive Paul Morris, who runs the company with his brother – and chairman – Mark Morris.

"The contracts we have won are steady for the next five years, so we can use them to build on our existing contracts and get us to where we want to be."

He added: "We are also changing our brand to Cook Street. It goes down the line of the culture of street food. All the events are looking less at burgers and hot dogs, and more at street food now.

"It's all about providence. We buy locally and know the farms where all our meat comes from."

MPM already provides outdoor catering to a number of outdoor events around the country, including Shropshire County Show, Cosford Air Show, Southampton Board Show and flower shows at RHS Tatton Park and Southport.

It has also recently won a deal that will see it providing catering for Brighton's Gay Pride Festival.

The Morris family has previously owned another catering business in Shrewsbury, Express Cafes, which was sold in 2008.

That business was then sold on again around the turn of the decade, but folded last year amid a cash crisis.

The present business is partly owned by the NEC Group, and the company has launched another facility at the major exhibition centre near Birmingham Airport to support its new contract.

Mark Morris added: "We've added more permanent staff to the team to manage the growth in the business and our new premises at Shires House are ideal as they offer a better layout, with plenty of both office and warehouse space combined.

"The move was essential due to the rapid growth of the business and the recent success in winning new contracts.

"It has been great to renew the contracts, which was our focus for this year, as it brings additional stability to the business. It gives us a foundation we can build on, and we have lots in the pipeline, including some huge contracts with major venues."

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