Compass Group’s corporate dining arm Restaurant Associates has partnered with ex-Maze chef Jason Atherton to develop several new bespoke restaurants.
The move marks the fourth chef partnership for Restaurant Associates, which runs a number of public restaurants in collaboration with Albert Roux (Sofitel Heathrow), Michel Roux Jr (Roux Parliament Square) and Gary Rhodes (Rhodes Twenty-Four).
Atherton will work with the group to develop a series of bespoke corporate fine dining offers with Restaurant Associates' existing clients, serving the chef’s own style of food using provincial ingredients, tailored to the needs of individual companies.
Restaurant Associates mainly operate corporate fine dining offers to banks, financial services companies, legal and professional firms and advertising and media agencies in London.
The chef will also work to develop public 'restaurant opportunities' with Compass, in a similar vein to those operated by Roux Jr and Rhodes.
Nick Potter, managing director of Restaurant Associates, said: As a business we are constantly evolving to meet the needs and expectations of our market-leading portfolio of prestigious high-profile clients. Jason will play a key role in helping us to continue to develop and improve our corporate and public facing dining offers and we are thrilled to have him on board.”
'Great opportunity' for Atherton
Atherton, who recently launched his first solo venture Table No 1 at the Waterhouse at South Bund Hotel in Shanghai, and will later on this year open his first London restaurant, said the partnership with Compass was a ‘great opportunity’ for him.
“Restaurant Associates’ commitment to providing the highest quality fresh ingredients that are fully traceable fits perfectly with my focus on food quality and provenance and I look forward to working in partnership with the team to help create a modern, fresh approach for its customers and clients,” he said.
Compass Group will also launch Tom's Kitchen at Somerset House, a collaboration with Tom Aikens, later this month, which will join the venue's outdoor dining area Tom's Terrace.