Introduction
Ireland has announced a major public sector services contract award in the education and facilities management sector, with Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) confirming the award of a nationwide contract for the provision of catering and hospitality services to Education and Training Board (ETB) training centres. The contract, with an estimated value of €37.4 million, has been awarded to Campbell Catering Limited, trading as Aramark Food Services. The agreement was signed on 17 July 2025 and published as a Contract Award Notice in January 2026.
Contract Details
The awarded contract relates to the delivery of comprehensive catering and hospitality services across ETB training centres throughout Ireland. The procurement was conducted under a Single Stage Procedure with Negotiation, in accordance with Directive 2014/23/EU, reflecting the scale and complexity of the services required.
The contract is classified as a services contract and falls under CPV codes 55500000 and 55000000, covering catering services and hotel, restaurant, and retail trade services. With an estimated value of €37,400,000, the contract is structured across four geographical service areas, enabling coordinated and standardised service delivery nationwide.
Entities Involved
The procuring authority is Cork Education and Training Board, headquartered at Lavitts Quay, Cork, acting on behalf of the wider ETB network. Cork ETB is responsible for further education, training, and skills development across its region and plays a central role in national education service delivery.
The successful bidder, Campbell Catering Limited, trading as Aramark Food Services, is a well-established catering and facilities management provider operating across Ireland. Details of unsuccessful bidders were not disclosed in the Contract Award Notice.
Strategic and Social Significance
This government contract award represents a significant investment in the operational infrastructure supporting Ireland’s education and training system. High-quality catering and hospitality services are essential to the daily functioning of ETB training centres, contributing to learner wellbeing, staff productivity, and overall service quality.
From an economic perspective, the contract supports large-scale service delivery employment and strengthens Ireland’s outsourced public services market. The multi-regional structure of the contract also allows for consistent standards while supporting local service operations.
Background on the Winning Company
Aramark Food Services, operating in Ireland through Campbell Catering Limited, is part of the global Aramark group, a leading provider of food services, facilities management, and hospitality solutions. The company has extensive experience delivering large public sector contracts, including education, healthcare, and government facilities, making it a strategic partner for nationwide service provision.
Technical and Financial Overview
While detailed service specifications have not been publicly disclosed, the contract scope includes full catering operations, hospitality management, food preparation, service delivery, and compliance with public sector standards. The €37.4 million estimated value suggests a multi-year engagement with significant operational scale and performance requirements across multiple training locations.
Conclusion
The award of the ETB Catering and Hospitality Services contract to Aramark marks an important development in Ireland’s public education procurement landscape. As implementation progresses, the contract is expected to enhance service consistency, operational efficiency, and user experience across ETB training centres nationwide. The award also signals continued opportunities for large-scale awarded tenders within Ireland’s education and public services sectors.
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