Alliance in Partnership acquires the Contract Dining Company

Education caterer Alliance in Partnership (AiP) has acquired the Kent-based Contract Dining Company in a deal that will strengthen its presence in the south east.

The Contract Dining company provides catering services to 53 schools in Kent, has 231 employees and a turnover of £4m. Its founder, Anne Winn, will remain with the company following the deal.

AiP was established 19 years ago and has grown to serve more than 75,000 meals a day in primary and secondary schools and colleges nationwide. The combined group will now serve over 400 schools and colleges with a combined turnover of £33m.

The acquisition follows a multimillion-pound investment made by private equity house Key Capital Partners (KCP) in 2014.

Paul Rogers, managing director of AiP, said: "The addition of the Contract Dining Company to the AiP family will enable us to further strengthen our presence in the south east, giving us a strong foothold in Kent following our recent contract wins in London. There's also a close cultural fit between the two businesses as we both share a focus on providing fresh, healthy and nutritious meals for schools.

"The combined group will now serve over 400 schools and colleges throughout the UK and will have combined sales of £33m, making us a major player in the education catering sector."

Owen Trotter, partner at KCP and AiP board member, added: "This latest development marks another key milestone in AiP's continued expansion. The business has already seen revenue grow by 120% since 2014 as its commitment to the provision of quality, freshly-cooked and nutritious meals for the education sector has chimed with public concerns. As a firmly established leader in the field, the company is well-positioned to extend its offering across the UK."

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