BREAKING NEWS: Sir Jim Ratcliffe in ‘talks over huge deal’ after Man Utd’s eye-opening financial results As Man United board held Emergency meeting yesterday
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly in talks to outsource the club’s catering. The Red Devils unveiled their first-quarter financial results on Thursday, which showed an operating profit of £13.3million.
The latest figures show a significant improvement from the £6.9m loss recorded in the same period last year due to reduced costs. United’s minority owner, Ratcliffe, has been trying to save money since taking control of football operations in February 2024.
The Ineos founder has been open in his belief that United must drastically reduce expenditure and has made around 450 staff redundancies since taking over. The petrochemicals billionaire has also taken away staff benefits and increased ticket prices at Old Trafford.
And The Sun now report that Ratcliffe has asked bosses to find a company that the M16 club can pay to provide all food and drink from hospitality rooms to stadium kiosks in the hope of saving more money.
It is said that a potential deal could lead to a menu overhaul, with prawn sandwiches potentially being axed. The club are reportedly in talks with Levy, a subsidiary of Compass Group, regarding a multi-million-pound contract that would see the two businesses enter into a profit-sharing agreement.
However, some catering staff are reportedly concerned that the deal could result in further redundancies.
“The catering staff are concerned that any potential change could see them lose their jobs,” a source said.
“The club have been at pains to explain that by law, any outsourcing deal has to guarantee them their jobs, but some take great pride in being employed by Manchester United. It’s a worrying time for them.”
A club source said: “This is not about job cuts. It’s about deciding what is the best catering model for the club, and ultimately for fans.
“We’re one of only two clubs in the Premier League that don’t currently outsource catering, so it makes sense for us to explore the option.”
Former Red Devils captain Roy Keane famously labelled some supporters who enjoy the club’s hospitality boxes as the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’ during a rant in November 2000. His comments came after the fans failed to support the team in a Champions League fixture against Dynamo Kviv.
He said: “Away from home our fans are fantastic, I’d call them the hardcore fans.
“But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don’t realise what’s going on out on the pitch.
