Elaine Higginson, managing director of United Coffee reviews Arena’s Face to Face interview with Aidan Connolly, CEO of Sodexo & Ireland
At one of the highest attended Arena Face to Face interviews, ITV presenter Mary Nightingale had a refreshingly open and frank conversation with the chief executive of Sodexo UK & Ireland, Aidan Connolly.
Taking the reins from Arena’s usual interviewer – her colleague, Alastair Stewart, who was heavily involved in the pre-election media frenzy – Mary Nightingale said it was always a privilege to get a unique insight into other people’s businesses and to ask questions. For the audience, Mary’s fresh approach to the Face to Face interview provoked some very honest answers. When asked what the secret to his success was, Aidan replied “Hard work and not being afraid to ask dumb questions.”
Having become CEO last year, profits are up in double digits for the second year running. Aidan explained that it’s the diversity of the company that makes his role so exciting – it touches 6 million people every day from catering in a staff restaurant right through to an operating theatre.
Despite the fact that only 50% of its business remains in catering, this is Sodexo’s foundation and fascinates Connolly; “With catering, it’s ‘just in time’ – there is no plan B. At 1pm on a given day, 342 customers will go to their staff restaurant and will need to be fed. Whatever happens, food must be served onto their plates.”
With the weak economy and the new Government, Mary asked Aidan if fresh meals will in time be replaced by ready meals. Connolly replied that the market will not come roaring back as quickly as he or the industry at large would like and that the Chancellor has some tough decisions ahead. Yet, he views continued meal provision as a necessity in business; “To employ and keep a good workforce, you have to give staff benefits. Whether its gym membership, private health cover or whatever, catering is part and parcel of that package”
This focus on the workforce extends to his own team where he views skilled staff as the driving force behind the Sodexo business. And, it’s something that he fears for in the future of the industry as companies cut costs. “Marketing is usually the first thing to go, closely followed by staffing and investment in specialist training”. He commented that without skilled staff, it’s just not possible to run a sustainable business.
Connolly explained the diversity of the skill involved in the operation of the Sodexo business. It can be as diverse as calming a prisoner through to controlling the temperature of an operating theatre. He talked about Kalyx – the new facilities management division of Sodexo which aims to rehabilitate 5,000 prisoners. The skill set in this operation ranges from catering through to teaching adults to read and providing them the skills to interact with their own families.
Aidan states that delivering great service is a “wonderful thing to do” and that Sodexo’s success is down to its ability to deliver “quality of life” solutions, which he claims is achieved by getting the best from your people. “The numbers are the least important part of a business. Most UK & US PLCs spend 99% of their time focused on the numbers and 1% focused on their people. In hospitality, you focus on the people.”
For more information on United Coffee call Tracey on 01908 275555 or visit www.unitedcoffeeuk.com
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