In Europe, the business of railway catering is conducted upon various principles, some of the railways operating their own refreshment departments, and others letting this work out on contract. Most of the railway catering in Britain is cared for by the group lines themselves. The London, Midland and Scottish Company is actually the largest hotel-owner in Europe. Across the Channel, two big establishments are responsible, in the main, for providing the railway traveller with refreshment. These are respectively the International Sleeping Car Company, and the Mitropa Company. The first-named has its headquarters at Brussels, while the Mitropa undertaking is centred on Berlin. Most of the French, Belgian, Spanish, Swiss and Italian restaurant cars are staffed and managed by the International Company, by arrangement with the railway authorities concerned. The Mitropa Company operate restaurant cars on most of the German long-distance trains, and on certain trains serving other central European lands. The Home railways operate a fleet of nearly 700 restaurant-cars, and provide refreshment rooms at all the principal stations. On the restaurant cars alone, over 8,000,000 meals are served each year.