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Oct 23, 2008

Whitbread signs finance and accounting outsourcing deal with Steria

Steria, the European IT enabled business services company, today announces it has signed a five year contract with Whitbread to provide outsourced finance and accounting (F&A) services. The contract, which will be going live in early 2009, will see Steria provide a comprehensive, timely and accurate F&A service, delivered 100% from its offshore locations. 

Whitbread is the UK's largest hotel and restaurant company whose brands include Premier Inn, Beefeater, Table Table, Brewers Fayre, Taybarns and Costa Coffee. The company employs over 33,000 people and serves 8.5 million customers every month in its 1,500 outlets. The contract with Steria offers Whitbread an efficient and cost effective service, which in time will enable further expansion at a significantly reduced cost.

Whilst the contract is the first significant deal between the two parties for some years, Steria and Whitbread PLC have enjoyed the benefits of working together prior to Steria's acquisition of Xansa in 2007 - the 1990's saw Whitbread PLC outsource its IT function to Steria.

Commenting on the new deal, Andy Pellington, Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants finance director, said "This signifies an important step in Whitbread PLC's ongoing organisational review, ensuring we operate in the most efficient and cost effective way. Given the success of our prior relationship with Steria, coupled with its vast experience in providing efficient and productive BPO services, we were in no doubt they were best placed to manage our F&A requirements."

John Torrie, CEO Steria UK, says "We are delighted to be working with Whitbread PLC. Our world class F&A delivery offering in India will provide a structured and streamlined service, enabling Whitbread PLC to continue delivering quality and value for money across all its brands."