St. Louis Business Journal – by Kelsey Volkmann
May 7, 2010
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has hired Butler’s Pantry as its exclusive caterer for special events and programs.
The center previously used French multinational company Sodexo for all its external and internal events but made the change to save money and to hire a local company, said Tam McGuire, the Danforth’s manager of special events.
The center considered six other local companies before picking Butler’s Pantry because of its commitment to using Missouri farmers and environmentally friendly practices, including the Orca Green composting machine, McGuire said.
Sodexo had handled all of the center’s external and internal events but now the center will run its own internal events and use Butler’s Pantry for external events, she said.
The state-of-the-art research building is available for rent for corporate and private events including luncheons, galas, receptions, meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars. The center has accommodated groups from 12-250 guests.
The center has 30 events planned for May.
“We hope to generate additional revenue through events,” McGuire said.
The Butler’s Pantry, led by President Richard Nix Jr., has provided catering services for some of the most notable St. Louis events, including the 2008 BMW Championship, the Mayor’s Ball, the visit of Pope John Paul II and the U. S. Senior Open. It has 300 part-time and 55 full-time employees and expects to report more than $5 million in revenue in 2010.