The East Midlands-based Zoological Society, which has until now managed all of the catering services at Twycross Zoo in-house, has brought Lindley Heritage on board to help the charitable trust to develop and enhance its catering services for the 500,000 members of the public who visit the venue each year; build the conference and events business and establish a viable incremental revenue stream for the 90-acresite; and enable the management team to focus on its core business of running the zoo.
Turnover derived from catering and event management at Twycross Zoo is estimated to be in the region of £2 million per annum, totalling £11 million during the term of the partnership. The arrangement offers the East Midland Zoological Society a guaranteed annual income from catering services, plus a share of the profits.
Lindley Heritage will take over the entire catering operation at Twycross Zoo from the beginning of August when a year of 50th celebrations begins. Immediate plans are to introduce new menus and style of service at each of the cafés and restaurants located around the zoo, and create a new barbecue and outdoor seating area adjacent to the Dome Café for this summer season.
In the autumn, the caterer will commence a major refurbishment programme of some key areas at the site, including the relaunch of the Himalaya Restaurant and developing a new concept for the Gorilla Outpost.
Mary-Lorraine Hughes, acting CEO, at Twycross Zoo, said: “After half a century of managing the catering in-house, we decided that it was time to look externally for some inspiration and expertise to help us to further develop our catering offering.”
Jonathan Davies, sales & marketing director of The Lindley Group, which also provides ad hoc consultancy services at Chester Zoo, added: “Attracting around half a million visitors a year, Twycross Zoo is one of the major visitor attractions in the East Midlands, and its extensive and flexible conference and banqueting facilities combined with its central geographic location and good transport links make it an ideal choice for event organisers looking for a setting for a multitude of private or business functions. There is plenty of scope for development.”