Industry Update UNITED DNATA/ALPHA NEWREST/FIRST CATERING


Sunrise Sunset


United’s new signature cocktail, Sunrise Sunset, developed by flight attendant Tita Martin, is a mix of cranberry, apple juice, orange juice, a squeeze of lime, and vodka. United invited flight attendants to design


a signature cocktail using existing onboard products. Some 64 recipes were submitted, with 10 selected as finalists. United hosted a tasting event in Chicago for users of social media channels to vote for the winning recipe. Complimentary in First and Business, it is available for purchase for $7 in Economy. Tita Martin has flown with United for 19 years. Her new cocktail was the latest addition to United’s inflight dining options. The Choice Menu® is a selection of fresh menu options, snackboxes and beverages available for purchase in Economy on North America flights longer than two hours. The airline also offers two brunch menu options available for pre-order on transcontinental flights departing before 4 pm, as well as new items developed specifically by master chef Curtis Stone. www.united.com


New venture for Dnata African catering


An agreement has been recently made between Autogrill and Emirates Group subsidiary, Dnata, for the sale to Dnata of the Alpha Flight Group. Autogrill acquired the UK company, originally


part of Alpha Airports Group, in 2007. The sale builds on Alpha’s existing relationship with the Emirates group in Australia, where Alpha Flight Services Pty Ltd has provided all Emirates’ inflight meals since 2008. The venture is currently providing more than seven million meals a year to 16 airlines at seven Australian airports. With its 5,800 employees, Alpha Flight provides flight catering and retail services for over 100 airlines, serving over 45 million meals a year. It operates at 58 airports in 11 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Australia. The agreement with Dnata provides for the sale


of 100 per cent of Alpha Flight Group Ltd and the Alpha brands at a price of £100 million. The price could be increased by an additional maximum amount of up to £6.5 million under certain conditions. Alpha Flight Group comments that it will be business as usual: same management, business and commercial relationships, with the potential for positive employment prospects as the business develops. “This acquisition is part of our long-term strategy to expand and develop our international network,” said Dnata president Gary Chapman. Alpha Flight Group ceo Lionel Wilton commented: “My close association with Dnata, developed through the Australian partnership, inspires great confidence for the future. They adopt a long term perspective and are prepared to invest for growth.” www.alpha-group.com


United’s winning signature cocktail Dnata acquires Alpha Flight Group


Newrest and First Catering’s 50/50 joint- venture encompasses First Catering’s four key operations in South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria, with the possibility of extending the partnership to other countries in future. The new company, Newrest First Catering,


is present in seven cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Accra, Lusaka, Lagos and Abuja. As well as airline catering, it operates in industrial catering and remote site services. The new partnership currently has a turnover of more than US$31 million, and employs over 550 staff in the four key countries. First Catering was founded in 1995 by Markus Oberholzer and started operations in Bassersdorf, Switzerland. The company has grown rapidly in Africa, starting in Ghana in 1998, then Lagos, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bloemfontein followed by the establishment of First Catering Zambia in 2006. It provides in-flight and oilrig catering, complete inflight solutions, duty-free concepts, and cabin dressing and cleaning, with 1630 employees. In 2002 Ernst & Young named Markus Oberholzer Entrepreneur of the Year. Newrest employs more than 15000 people in 39 countries and is 67.5 per cent owned by management, with the remaining capital held by private equity partners. www.newrest.eu


African joint venture for Newrest and First Catering www.onboardhospitality.com 13


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