Caterer Lindley gains £40 million deal

Lindley, which has managed all of the club's catering services for the past eight years, has gained the 11-year contract for both public and corporate hospitality catering at the ground. The deal comes as the club begins its first phase of a major £60 million redevelopment of the ground, which will increase the capacity of the stadium from 14,500 to 30,000. Work on the first phase of the expansion of the ground, which involves the Caterpillar Stand on the Granby Halls side of the stadium, began in July, and is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the 2009/10 season. Under the terms of the agreement, Lindley is investing £1.25 million in installing new state-of-the-art kitchen facilities which will be located within the new stand development. Currently eight full-time Lindley staff are based at Welford Road. David Clayton, managing director of Leicester Tiger, said: "We have very ambitious plans to expand the club's facilities over the next decade, Welford Road is already the biggest dedicated club rugby stadium in the UK – and catering will play an increasing role in enabling us to examine potential use of the ground outside match days." Weblink: www.lindley-group.co.uk