/ 15 December 2005

Compass Group lands Kruger restaurant deal

South African National Parks (SANParks) has appointed the Compass Group as an interim service provider for all restaurants in the Kruger National Park. The appointment is for a one-year period, with effect from December 15.

This follows SANParks’s successful application back in November for the liquidation of Vilayet — trading as Nature’s Group — which forced SANParks to look for an operator in an emergency situation.

”Essentially, during this one-year period, we will be appointing a replacement operator for nine-and-a-half years after following due tender procedures as prescribed by the National Treasury,” said Giju Varghese, SANParks senior manager: business development, on Wednesday.

Varghese added that the organisation is confident that the Compass Group possesses the institutional depth that is required to cater to Kruger National Park guests.

”We are also satisfied that during this whole process the interests of the public were given prime consideration.

”We are also proud to announce also that during this transition there was never a period in which there was a lapse in services and none of the employees lost their job. And this is a great achievement on the part of SANParks,” he said. — Sapa