Firm appointed to supply chef uniforms

Mitchells & Butlers, one of the largest operators of restaurants, pubs and bars in the UK, has appointed Elis to supply and launder chefs’ wear and linen for its brands, including Harvester, Innkeepers Lodge, Toby Carvery, Browns and Miller & Carter.

The contract is for the supply and regular laundry of over 375,000 individual items, including garments for around 7,500 chefs and table, bed and kitchen linen, including napkins.

Elis is providing nationwide coverage, with its 43 industrial laundries and delivery fleets collecting, laundering and returning the chefs’ wear and linen to the individual Mitchells & Butlers sites throughout the country. Elis’ nationwide capabilities, implementation expertise, stock control systems and innovative laundry operations were key factors in winning the contract.

Richard Coe, of Mitchells & Butlers, said: “It was important to us that the changeover to the Elis chefs’ wear and linen was achieved quickly and without disruption, and the Elis team used their systems and operational capabilities to deliver the new stock into over 800 sites within a three-week window.

"Their specialist implementation team worked in partnership with us to ensure that the process went smoothly. They really understood our requirements and what they achieved was impressive. Ongoing, the fact that all items feature RFID technology, and Elis provides us with regular management information, means we have full visibility of our usage and superior stock control.”

Lee Chan, of Elis, said: “Elis is able to support businesses of all sizes and in all locations because of our comprehensive UK coverage and delivery network. While Mitchells & Butlers operates out of a vast number of sites, our UK spread of laundries and the fact that we do not sub-contract any work, while owning our own fleet of over 670 vehicles, means we can meet national multi-site customer requirements.

“The Mitchells & Butlers three-week implementation to over 800 sites was the largest implementation project we have completed in recent years. We worked very closely with the Mitchells & Butlers team, and this collaborative approach helped to ensure the success of the project.

"Key personnel from across the Elis business worked together to ensure that the process was delivered in full and to schedule, and the fact that we own all elements of the business and employ our own staff, including delivery drivers, was an important factor in its success.”

Elis is providing Mitchells & Butlers with chefs’ wear and linen items, including napkins, oven cloths and bedlinen. All items are supplied on a cost-effective rental arrangement, which provides flexibility for staff changes. Elis collects soiled items, professionally launders and maintains them, and returns them to the same, allocated site, so that businesses have the items they need.

Elis uses the latest technology in all aspects of its service; the chefs’ wear and linen items incorporate tiny radio frequency ID tags which help to deliver superior stock control and accountability, and the highest levels of reliability.

Elis estimates that its laundries, which use the most advanced energy and water saving processes, will wash 7.2 million individual items for Mitchells & Butlers each year. It has been recognised by the Carbon Trust for reductions in CO2 emissions and water usage and is committed to further reducing its environmental footprint.

Previously called Berendsen, Elis has been operating its workwear supply and laundry service for over a hundred years. Its services also stretch beyond the UK, as part of a leading international provider of workwear and laundry services, operating in 28 countries.

Lee Chan said: “Ensuring that organisations have the right workwear and linen, clean and where they need it, is an essential service that goes on behind the scenes to support many businesses. Our nationwide capabilities and focus on using the latest technology and the best systems help to ensure that our clients have the right support to meet their needs, not only now, but for the future.”