NEWS REVIEW / FRONT
8 C AT E R I N G INSIGHT /^ FEBRUARY^2018 /^ http://www.cateringinsight.com
Dunstable-based Advance
Group has acquired fellow
distributor Prestige Catering
Equipment of Northampton.
Prestige has developed
a number of high profile
service contracts in the
local market, including at
the Silverstone racetrack,
Le Manoir and a number of
county council school contracts.
The Northampton dealer’s back office will now have access to
Advance’s IntEquip asset management system. This should allow its
customers to see up to date financial information to ensure that they
make the right decisions on a factual basis as to whether to repair or
replace assets.
Mark Curry, who founded Prestige in 2011, will stay with the
company to lead its future development.
Advance Group chairman Steve Coates commented: “Our
acquisition model is based on acquiring well-run service businesses
where we can add value by providing significant business systems
and back office support. This will enable each company to focus all its
efforts on customer-led initiatives.”
Just prior to this, Advance agreed a joint venture with Rob Gibson’s
new business, Kitchen and Restaurant Projects, which will see the
latter take over the day to day responsibility of developing all sales of
Thermodyne cook and hot holding cabinets in the UK.Lockhart Catering Equipment
buys out Aggora
Reading-
headquartered
Lockhart
Catering
Equipment
has bought
out fellow
distributor,
Aggora Group.
The Bunzl
group company
said in a
statement: “Lockhart Catering Equipment confirms that it has
recently acquired the business of Aggora Group based in Redditch.
Aggora Group designs, supplies, installs and maintains commercial
catering equipment.
“With a broad customer base and revenue of approximately
£27m in the year ended March 2017, the acquisition complements
and strengthens Lockhart’s existing catering equipment business
in the UK.”
The firm did not disclose the value or terms of the deal.
Exceeding £26.7m turnover in its latest financial year, the Aggora
Group was until now one of the largest independent distributors in
the UK, owned by Simon Pointon and Doug Thewlis.
The business boasts nationwide coverage with offices in
Redditch, Manchester and Edinburgh. It offers services including
catering area design, equipment supply and installation, planned
maintenance and repair, and relocation and disposal of equipment.
Lockhart Catering Equipment is the new owner of the Aggora Group.Cambridgeshire-based
distributor, Peachmans
Catering Equipment
Services, has rebranded as
Cavell Catering Equipment
following company naming
confusion in the local market.
BI Catering Equipment
Services purchased
Peachmans in September
2015 from RG Carter Building, and ran the distributor as a separate
entity. However, the original owners then decided to reopen its
Builders Equipment subsidiary in Norfolk, trading as Peachman
Catering Equipment.
BI and Cavell MD Andrew Jones detailed: “There is another
company trading as Peachman in Norwich and this has been very
confusing and frustrating for our customers but also for us.
“Therefore, from 1 January 2018, we changed our name to Cavell
Catering Equipment Services. We thought this name was more
apt and deserving of the area that operate in, celebrating the local
history and keeping it within the Norfolk and Norwich area which
was a priority.”
MD Andrew Jones has now changed Peachmans Catering
Equipment Services’ name to Cavell Catering Equipment.Peachmans changes its
name after local confusion
Advance Group seals
Prestige takeover deal
The owner of an Inverness-based bar
operator has branched out into catering
equipment maintenance. Scott Murray, the
director of Cru Holdings, which runs bar
brands such as Bar One, Scotch & Rye and
Riva, incorporated a new company, Edge
Catering Engineers, last September.
In January, Kieran Fitzpatrick was hired
as a director of the firm. Previously he spent
stints at Comcat Engineering, Mears Facilities
Management and Sparks Mechanical Services. Edge Catering Engineers
covers servicing and repair in most of the north of Scotland, including
installations and maintenance for refrigeration and warewashers.
Local news outlet, The Press and Journal, reported that Edge has
rapidly signed up 37 customers in its first month, outstripping its target
of 10, and is looking to hire two more engineers within 6 months.
Murray told the newspaper: “It’s great to have Edge Catering Services
as part of the Cru Holdings family and to diversify our offering. The new
company is off to a fantastic start and being able to take on additional
staff so early on is great for us. Our experience allows us to identify
exactly what bars and restaurants need so we’re really excited for the
future of Edge.”New name enters Scottish catering
equipment servicing sectorAdvance Group is the new owner of Prestige Catering Equipment.Scott Murray incorporated
Edge Catering Engineers
towards the end of last year.