A SWINDON firm has bagged the country's largest catering contract to make sure the nation's posties get their well-earned cups of tea and sausage and egg breakfasts.

Quadrant, in Drake's Meadow, has sealed a five-year, £375 million turnover deal to provide catering to more than 400 of Royal Mail's largest sites throughout the UK.

The contract includes providing 1.5 million main meals, 3.5 million cups of tea, 1.8 million items of confectionery and two million sausages and eggs.

It covers 12 and 24-hour restaurants, hospitality services, vending machines, and canteen cleaning, and hotel services at Royal Mail's training college.

Quadrant's managing director Steve BuesdenCOR said: "We are delighted to see the strengthening of the partnership between Quadrant and Royal Mail.

"We will be working closely to ensure that Quadrant's approach complements Royal Mail's 'great place to work' ethos, with Quadrant's canteens being a great place to eat."

Royal Mail's employee relations director Jon Millidge said: "Ensuring a top quality, varied, value for money catering service is a key investment by Royal Mail in the benefits we offer our people.

"The renewed contract we've signed with Quadrant includes a generous subsidy to keep prices down as well as ensuring that improved catering facilities include a wide choice of meals, snacks and soft drinks."

Quadrant used to be Royal Mail's own catering service, but in March 1998 started a partnership with Granada Food Services now the Compass Group. Royal Mail retains 51 per cent of the shares, with Compass owning 49 per cent.

It employs 30 people at the Swindon head office and 2,300 people across the country.

Although Royal Mail owns the majority share in Quadrant, the catering contract had to be won on a competitive basis against other firms.

Quadrant moved from Dorcan House to Drakes Meadow two and a half years ago. It was the first unit to be completed on the business park, which is off Drakes Way.