Puck leads to profits for Aramark

Helped by the return of the NHL, food service provider Aramark Corp. reported Wednesday that its first-quarter profit rose 29%.

For the quarter ended Dec. 30, Philadelphia-based Aramark reported net income of $93.1 million, with revenue up 7% to $2.93 billion.

International sales in the food and support services segment increased 13% to $623 million, while domestic sales rose 6% to $1.9 billion. Aramark attributed growth in the U.S. to strength in its education, corrections and refreshments businesses and the return of the NHL, which missed last season because of a player lockout.

"We had a solid start to the fiscal year," Aramark chairman and CEO Joseph Neubauer said in a statement. "I am particularly pleased that net income was a record for a first quarter. Companywide, our margin improved as a result of solid growth and effective cost control, with significant margin improvement in our U.S. and international food and support services segments, as well as in our uniform rental business."

Aramark will manage food services at several German stadiums for the FIFA World Cup this summer. The company also has expanded its service capabilities, in China, where it rexcenlt acquired a food service company in that nation. Aramark says it has more than 8,000 employees in China "providing an array of food and facilities services."