Chelsea FC extend deal with Levy UK + I as official catering partner

Levy UK + Ireland, the sports and hospitality division of Compass Group UK and Ireland, has today announced its contract extension with Chelsea FC as the Club’s official catering partner. The deal will commit Levy UK + I to working with the Club until the end of the 2024/25 season.

As part of the renewed partnership, Levy UK + I and Chelsea FC launched Westview for the 21/22 season, which follows the refurbishment of the West Stand Upper Concourse and Upper Tier seating and delivers a new matchday experience for both season ticket holders and match by match ticket purchasers.

The Westview will offer fans a new dynamic space on gamedays and will see the introduction of two new 360-degree bars, as well as a new food hall serving an expanded range of innovative and indulgent matchday food. It is equipped with an array of digital technology that is designed to increase the flow of service, reduce queuing times for the supporters and ensure Chelsea FC’s guests have a truly premium experience.

In addition to providing services at Stamford Bridge, fans watching Chelsea FC Women will also now be able to enjoy Levy UK + I’s catering and hospitality at Kingsmeadow. The fans of Chelsea FC Women will be served a range of food and drink that is available at Stamford Bridge, developing a synergy with all fans’ experiences. Levy UK + I will also continue to offer food service to Chelsea FC’s training facility in Surrey, The Chelsea Health Club & Spa, the Under the Bridge music venue, and Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill.

Levy UK + I and Chelsea FC will build on their innovative food and drink experiences, which just before the pandemic included the launch of the first fully vegan kiosk in the English Premier League, underlining both parties’ commitment to a healthier and more sustainable approach to food. This can also be seen at the Club’s training ground, where Levy UK + I has designed bespoke menus for the team, working in partnership with the players’ nutritionists and performance coaches.

In line with the company’s Levy Cares charter – which seeks to highlight the responsibilities of all those within the food and beverages industry to reduce the impact of waste upon the environment –the partnership will also feed into Chelsea FC’s sustainability targets. Commitments include a 20% reduction in food waste, a focus on local, seasonal, British produce, and a 30% reduction in red meat across the Chelsea FC estate compared to the 2019/20 season. Furthermore, menus for meetings and events will see no red meat available and will have 60% vegetarian or vegan options.

With fans returning to watching games at stadia for the 2021/22 season, Levy UK + I expect to feed an estimated 1.15 million fans annually, alongside catering over 1,000 corporate and private events a year.

Jon Davies, Managing Director at Levy UK + I, said:

Across the club, Chelsea FC adopts a tremendously forward-thinking vision around food – ensuring that players and staff as well as home and away fans can readily access modern, great-tasting and sustainable choices. Our fantastic track record of collaborating on innovative initiatives such as the first vegan kiosk in the Premier League is something Levy UK + I and Chelsea FC will build on over the coming 4 years. Launching Westview is the latest in a string of many exciting projects we will be working on together to continue to innovate the Club’s catering and hospitality offering.

Simon Hunter, Head of Venue and Hospitality at Chelsea FC, said:

It’s an exciting time to be extending our relationship with Levy UK + I, especially with the opening of Westview. This part of the stadium has been completely overhauled offering faster service times for fans to enjoy the fantastic food and drink Levy UK + I team serves. Continuing to work with Levy also enables both parties to uphold our shared sustainability values, where we are reducing our environmental impact and improving the healthy options available to our guests.

KSS is a longstanding VIP Sponsor of Sports Venue Business and Exhibiting Sponsor for ALSD International, with Debbie Power, Associate Director, and Nick Marshall, Director, both sharing insights on hospitality & interior design and the future of stadium design during last week’s conference hosted by Liverpool Football Club.

Main image (top): LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Fans arriving during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)