Aussie facilities services company grows in UK

13 January 2011

The Australian Spotless Group Limited has acquired the privately-owned Event Management Catering Limited (EMC) as part of its strategy to make inroads into the UK leisure, sports & entertainment sector

Spotless intends to build on the powerful combination of catering, cleaning, waste management, security and related services to drive organic growth in the UK market, with an initial focus on the leisure sports and entertainment sector. The acquisition of EMC for about £3m is an important step forward in its international services strategy and the company claims it is now well positioned to provide a unique integrated facility services offering to UK clients.
Spotless is a £160bn-turnover (AUS $2.5 billion) Australian facilities services company. Spotless Group employs 37,000 people across more than 32 countries. It specialises in managed, integrated, food, retailer, cleaning, laundry, painting and security services.
In March 2010, Spotless acquired the UK business Cleanevent which runs cleaning, housekeeping and facilities services for Royal Ascot, Wembley Stadium, Twickenham Stadium, Emirates Stadium, The O2 Arena, Silverstone Circuits and Glastonbury Festival
EMC's portfolio of contracts includes Kingston Communications Stadium and Craven Park Stadium in Hull, Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley, Coral Windows Stadium, Bradford, Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, Leigh Sports Village, Lancashire, The Shay Stadium, Halifax and St Helens Rugby League Stadium (due to commence mid-2012). Josef Farnik, Spotless Group Managing Director and CEO said EMC's portfolio of catering contracts at nine stadia across northern England strongly complements Spotless' March 2010 acquisition of Cleanevent, the recognised UK leader in cleaning and related services to stadia and major events.
Spotless will safeguard the jobs of EMC employees and it intends to retain the current EMC management team.