Compass pulls out of BHA

The decision was made by Compass UK & Ireland marketing director John Pain, who contacted BHA chief executive Bob Cotton today to let him know the company's decision. Compass spokesman Chris King said: "This is something we take very seriously and we gave them notice a year ago that we wanted to review our relationship. "During this year we have increased resources within our business to manage our relationship with our key stakeholders. This has allowed us to strengthen our partnerships with the leading government departments, parliamentarians and the Food Standards Agency. "For many years Compass Group has been closely involved with the working of the BHA, but following a review of our relationships with numerous trade associations and other external bodies it is felt that the remit and membership of the BHA has become too diverse and removed from the areas of policy that are important to our individual business sectors. "While the economic climate is challenging we must ensure a more prudent approach towards our cost base and manage costs as efficiently as possible. This decision is part of a series of measures that are designed to protect the secure foundations of our business. "This decision was not arrived at lightly. Our membership of the BHA has been under review for some time, headed by John Pain, who contacted Bob Cotton to tell him." As the world's largest contractor, the decision by Compass casts a shadow over the BHA's annual Food & Service Management Survey, which is due out in spring 2009 and draws heavily on details supplied by member companies to give an important statistical picture of the UK contract catering industry.