26.11.2004, 11:22
Lassila & Tikanoja plc and Amica Restaurants Ltd, which is part of the Fazer Group, are to establish a new company, Blue Service Partners Oy. The company will produce top-grade and efficient comprehensive solutions in catering and property services and services at customer premises for the public sector, particularly for municipalities that want to acquire these services from one contract partner. The establishment of the company is subject to approval by the Finnish Competition Authority. The operations are planned to start at the beginning of 2005.
The establishment of a joint venture company is a natural continuation to the network cooperation between Amica and L&T that has been going on for a couple of years. “We have encountered some practical and legal problems, particularly in situations where services are sold to the municipal sector,” says Teija Andersen, managing director of Amica Finland. “A joint venture company will put these problems behind us.”
EXPERTISE OF THE PERSONNEL BRINGS FINANCIAL BENEFITS
The new company sees the municipalities as its main target group. “For example, the personnel at schools can work flexibly in both catering and cleaning services,” says Jari Sarjo, President and CEO of Lassila & Tikanoja. “Blue Service Partners will offer municipalities a customer-responsive and reliable alternative. The operating models and the work on developing them will come from the parent companies. This will allow our customers to use the expertise and resources of two leading companies in their own fields.”
According to Andersen and Sarjo, an extensive survey in which municipal management was interviewed revealed that the municipalities’ interest in cooperation with companies is clearly on the increase. This is because major changes are taking place in the municipalities’ operating environment: financial strings are being tightened and a third of the employees will be retiring over the next ten years.
At the moment many municipalities are drawing up service strategies on how to produce services in the future. This will offer a natural opportunity to put support services out to tender and give them to the most suitable provider.
“Outsourcing will not mean the end of work and services. On the contrary, it can offer employees new development opportunities,” Teija Andersen stresses.
FOCUS ON CORE COMPETENCES
As a whole, L&T and Amica will continue with network cooperation in other customer areas and provide their services as separate companies. The new company will mainly focus on the municipal sector. “We both want to focus on our own core competences,” emphasizes Teija Andersen.
“When a municipality outsources many support services at the same time, it makes sense for one company to handle the whole process — this is the best solution for the personnel as well. The company is also in a better position to provide a wide range of services,” states Jari Sarjo.
Further information is available from:
Lassila & Tikanoja plc:
Jari Sarjo, President and CEO, tel. +358 (0)10 636 111:
Anna-Maija Apajalahti, Vice President, Property Services, +358 (0)10 636 2811
Amica Restaurants Ltd.:
Teija Andersen, Managing Director, tel. +358 (0)9 507 6200:
Maritta Iso-Aho, Customer Marketing Director, tel. +358 (0)9 507 6460