Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has welcomed the club's new multi-million pound global partnership with Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.
Dunkin' Brands is the parent company for both Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins and the deal will see Dunkin' Donuts become the Anfield club's official coffee, tea and bakery provider, while Baskin-Robbins will be the official ice cream provider. Ayre believes the income from these sort of commercial deals will help Reds manager Brendan Rodgers strengthen and improve his squad.
"In order to support Brendan we have to provide the resources to allow that," said Ayre. That is only allowable operating within your own means - they are the rules we have all signed up to - and this is absolutely vital in us being able to compete.
"We should be pleased and fans should take comfort from the fact commercially this club is right at the top of teams in that regard. In the modern game we talk about financial fair play and the ability to operate in transfer markets, and a big part of doing what we want to achieve here is generating revenue which supports what we do on the pitch.
"Fans are interested in seeing the team win matches and the way we do that is by putting the best team out there every week. There are a finite number of partners we can have on a global basis and it is vital as a football club, like our competitors, we compete in that.
"I don't think we're trying to catch up with anyone. Off the pitch I think we bat right at the top of the league in terms of our commercial activity and our performances in that regard. Our ambition is to be the best we can be for our fans, not compete with anyone else."
United States-based principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner are in Liverpool this weekend for Saturday's home game against Aston Villa. They will also be undertaking routine business during their time on Merseyside but Ayre insists there is nothing out of the ordinary about their appearance.
Ayre said: "The football is going well and the business is going well and it is a timely time to sit down and catch up but there is nothing in particular on the agenda."
