Acquisitions drive CH&Co’s turnover to £286m

CH&Co has reported a 19% increase in turnover to £286m for 2018, with profit before tax of £17.2m.

The catering business, which last month announced the acquisition of Mitie’s catering division Gather & Gather, made no acquisitions in the year to 31 December 2018, though it did benefit from the integration of Harbour & Jones and Concerto Group, which is acquired in 2017.

Chief executive Bill Toner (pictured) said that 2018 had been a strong year for the business. He added: “We introduced a simplified group structure and undertook a complete rebranding to focus on seven core areas – workplaces, destinations, events, livery, venues, education and healthcare – and this was well-received by clients and team members alike. The performance of the company continues to be strong and we have a good track record of successfully growing our business through merging with like-minded companies.

“Economic uncertainty, particularly surrounding Brexit, continues to be a challenge for us and many of our clients but we are a resilient company in a resilient industry and I am confident that we can weather any storms that may come our way.

“Of course, 2019 has also been an exciting year for us so far with the merging of our Scottish business with Stirling-based Inspire Catering, and last month’s acquisition of Gather & Gather and Creativevents from Mitie. We’ve also been delighted to welcome our new equity partners, Equistone Partners Europe, who share our vision for the company’s future in foodservice and will support us in our growth ambitions.”