Revenue at catering services, facilities and property management company Aramark Ireland grew 6 per cent to €207 million in the year to the end of September 2012, with operating profit rising 18 per cent to €5.3 million compared to the previous year.
The company, which is one of the largest employers in Ireland, added 209 jobs last year, taking staff levels to more than 3,800.
Aramark Ireland chief executive Donal O’Brien attributed the growth to its foothold in the multinational sector, which helped it to win multi-country contracts and to bring in higher revenues from the UK and continental Europe.
However, gross margins in the Irish part of its business remained under pressure. "In the domestic market, gross margin fell slightly, from 16.9 per cent to 16.3 per cent, due to the depressed economic climate and competitive pressures," Mr O'Brien said.
Cost controls
However, cost-control measures and steps to leverage the scale of the business helped offset this, resulting in growth across all divisions. "In particular, our energy and environmental services division is growing very strongly," he said.
Aramark’s “green business” is likely to be fuelled by the European Commission’s push to transform Europe into a low-carbon economy, Mr O’Brien added, leading to further job creation over the next 12 to 18 months.
The company, which counts Forfás, Liffey Meats and the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, among its energy management clients, is hoping to capitalise on growing awareness in large companies of the savings that can be yielded from energy efficiency programmes.
Earlier this year, it began implementing Ireland’s largest energy efficiency campaign in 250 state buildings on behalf of the Office of Public Works.
Aramark Ireland has its headquarters in Dublin and offices in Cork, Limerick and Belfast. The company spent €90 million in payroll costs and €60 million on goods and services in the Irish economy last year.
