Scotland’s oldest deli opens staff cafe
One of Scotland’s largest financial services firms has opened a staff cafe run by the country’s oldest delicatessen and wine merchant.
Valvona & Crolla’s cafe at the Aberdeen Standard Investments office on St Andrew Square is open to employees but not members of the public.
Established in 1934, Valvona & Crolla is one of Europe’s original specialist food and drink shops, and has already opened five public cafés in the Scottish capital.
When RBS opened its £350 million Gogarburn headquarters in 2005 there was a collective gasp after it was revealed the complex would have its own temperature-controlled shopping street with the latest consumer brands.
Now Scottish finance giant Aberdeen Standard Investments has confirmed that staff at its new building in Edinburgh have access to their very own cafe run by Valvona & Crolla, the family-owned Italian food business.
In a development likely to spark envy in offices across Scotland, the company has revealed the branch at its St Andrew Square offices is open to all employees but not members of the public.
Established in 1934, Valvona & Crolla is Scotland’s oldest delicatessen and Italian wine merchant, and is one of Europe’s original specialist food shops. The firm has already opened five public cafés in the capital.
Its range of food and drink products includes French champagne at £295 a bottle, artisan cheeses, freshly made pastries and the best Italian bread.
However, the employees’ café sells a smaller selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks.
A spokesman for Aberdeen Standard Investments – the investment arm of the recently created Standard Life Aberdeen group – said: “Like many large companies we have onsite refreshment facilities for our people and visitors within our offices, run by catering contractors.
“At the new office on South St Andrew Square, local business Valvona and Crolla has been awarded the contract to provide a small café area within the building.”
Exclusive access to Valvona & Crolla is one of several perks on offer to Standard Life Aberdeen employees.
Benefits listed on recruitment site Glassdoor and confirmed by the company include private healthcare, childcare vouchers, gym membership, interest free travel and bike loans.
Valvona and Crolla is also the latest high-end food and drink firm to announce plans to open on or next to St Andrew Square.
Prestigious London eatery The Ivy launched its first Scottish branch there last month, with Mexican street food chain Wahaca, Argentinian steak restaurant Gaucho and the Italian themed Vapiano among other operators which have opened or are due to open premises.
No-one at Valvona & Crolla was yesterday available to comment on the new cafe.