Sodexo wins £54m contract with Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth

Foodservice giant Sodexo has secured a £54m contract to provide soft services at Her Majesty's Naval base (HMNB) Portsmouth.

The five-year contract, which has the option to extend for a further two years, will see Sodexo handle catering, cleaning, waste management, retail, leisure and grounds maintenance at the site.

Sodexo began work on the partnership earlier this month and its services will go 'live' on 1 October.

HMNB Portsmouth has been a part of the city since 1194 and is home to almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships.

The contract has been awarded as part of the Ministry of Defence's Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP), which has spent £5.2b awarding 11 contracts for services to support naval bases this year.

Paul Anstey, chief executive, government and agencies at Sodexo UK and Ireland said: "Sodexo is proud to have been selected as one of the trusted partners to the FMSP and is looking forward to providing services to enhance the quality of life for those at the base."

Sodexo has worked with the British military for more than 30 years and is due continue the relationship in future. When defence contractor Aspire Defence was awarded a 30-year contract with the MoD in 2003 Sodexo was named as its supply partner.