Press Release

Gate Gourmet Launches Its Culinary Academy

Zurich, September 1, 2003 - Gate Gourmet, one of the world leading airline catering companies, starts its Culinary Academy in November. The new think tank brings together international gastronomy experts and Gate Gourmet chefs.

The Culinary Academy has been established to promote and encourage a commitment to culinary excellence throughout the Group's ranks. Its courses will train 14 to 18 selected production managers and executive chefs at a time. Each course will extend over 18 months and consist of three eight-day modules. In additon to "classic" cooking and production topics, each module will focus on various further aspects of inflight catering including marketing, finance and management skills.

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering, hospitality and logistics company with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded its products and services recently through acquisitions and strategic investments. The portfolio now includes cabin service ware (deSter); comfort/entertainment items (Harmony); packaged food components assembled in central production units (Supplair); design and delivery of brand-linked customer environments (Performa); service staff recruitment and training and crew leasing (Elan); aviation services such as cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing and passenger services (Fernley/IAS); catering security (Gate Safe); business applications (eGate Solutions); and supply chain optimization (partnership with Pourshins).