Fastest Growing Contract Catering Businesses For Sale

Business description

One of the South East’s fastest growing contract catering businesses including High Street restaurant

Established just five years ago and built upon the firm foundations of a very successful, modern European style restaurant in one of Hampshire’s busiest towns, this business is one of the fastest growing contract caterers in the South East. This business operates in-house catering facilities on behalf of two large employers based in Hampshire, a stand alone modern style contemporary restaurant and take away facility amidst one of the county’s busiest business parks and delivery and corporate catering services operated out of its outlets – all in addition to its prominently located town centre restaurant.

This business has brought an entirely new approach to the sector, bringing its unrivalled expertise to bear in providing the very best practice from the unforgiving High Street into the contract catering sector.

This business prides itself on providing imaginative catering of the highest standards using only the very best, fresh ingredients. Depending on the individual requirements of its Corporate Clients this business provides the widest range of options – from ‘every day’ fare including freshly made sandwiches, baguettes and paninis right through to the full restaurant offering incorporating business breakfasts and lunches including wine if required.

It is perhaps in its overriding commitment to quality where this business stands out from the competition, a philosophy that is demonstrated throughout the business – whether it be in the attitude of the whole team and their relationships with their customers, the consistency and excellence of service and the variety and creativity of the menus right through to sourcing the finest quality produce at the best price from local suppliers. In essence this business provides its customers with a feeling of eating out whilst remaining within the workplace coupled with fresh, varied, wholesome, homemade and made to order European style food – whilst offering its Clients a catering solution that can be operated within minimal space and requires minimal financial and managerial investment on their part. This business is so confident of its approach it is well on the way to developing a sustainable brand, highly visible throughout its outlets, being featured on takeaway bags, cups, sandwich boxes etc.

Rapidly growing, having opened up a new facility on average once a year for the last three years and receiving approaches on a very regular basis to extend the network even further, this business is on course to meet, if not exceed, its projected turnover for the current financial year of £1.2 million. Current contracts, fully exploited mean this business is projecting turnover for the 2006/7 financial year of £2m. As such this business represents an excellent opportunity for any investor looking to acquire a well managed, fast growing, in-demand brand, rapidly establishing an excellent reputation in the contract catering sector.

Property information

Location:

Outlet 1: Opened in November 2001. this fully licensed restaurant comprises 3,000 square feet of premises across three floors of this very prominently located building situated close to the major shopping centre, in one of the oldest parts of this bustling Hampshire town.

Leasehold, with 5 years of a 9 year lease remaining the premises comprise a European style sandwich bar and bistro with 42 covers including a recently refurbished patio area. Rent is £22,000 per annum with Rates of £12,000 per annum.

With a fully equipped kitchen including cooker, grill, deep fat fryers, fridges and display cabinets as well as coffee and Panini making facilities, from these premises, the business also offers a phone delivery service as well as servicing a number of sandwich bars, local buffets and outside catering requirements. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the restaurant also offers fine dining with average spend rising to £30 per head.

The outlet is staffed by a Chef, sharing duties elsewhere within the group, four general assistants involved in food preparation plus two cashiers, supported by three additional part time waiting staff.

Outlet 2: Opened in November 2003, this modern styled contemporary restaurant and takeaway facility is situated in the heart of this bustling Hampshire business park, with easy access from the M3 motorway.

Servicing the requirements of the 3,200 personnel employed on the park, this 70-seater bistro/restaurant is open between 7.00 am and 4.00 pm daily and employs ten full time staff. As well as a European sandwich bar and bistro style offering this outlet also provides a telephone delivery service and sandwich round.

The premises are leasehold with twelve years remaining at an annual rent of £17,000 per annum plus Rates of £10,000 per annum.

Outlet 3:

Operated since December 2005, this ‘implant’ outlet situated within one of the UK’s leading medical equipment machinery manufacturers services three hundred employees daily with an in-house catering service offering a European sandwich bar and hot food menu.

Approximately 600 square feet, the outlet is operated by two full time Catering Assistants, during office hours, Monday to Friday only, with most service ‘takeaway to desk’.

Generating revenue of £24,000 per annum plus customer spend, the business is operated on a five year contract with a two year option to extend.

Outlet 4:

Operated since may 2006, this ‘implant’ outlet situated within one of the UK’s leading computer distribution companies services five hundred employees daily with an in-house catering service offering a European sandwich bar with bistro restaurant serving hot and cold food for ‘eat–in’ or takeaway.

Approximately 1500 square feet, the outlet is operated by three full time Catering Assistants, between 7.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday only.

This business is operated on a three year contract with the possibility to extend.

Outlet 5:

Opened in July 2006, this 1500 square feet outlet offers a European sandwich bar style menu with hot and cold food for eat-in or takeaway. Although with a captive audience of employees the outlet is also open to the public.

The outlet is operated by three full time Catering Assistants, between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday only.

This business has been secured over a fifteen year lease at an annual rent of £7,000 per annum and Rates of £2,000 per annum.

Other information

Competition / Market:

Situated as it is in a prominent High Street position, the restaurant of this business requires little need of advertising, with its location benefiting from significant passing traffic, high levels of awareness and footfall. What advertising there is, is limited to the local press. All other outlets largely benefit from ‘captive’ audiences with frequent in-house promotions used to maximize customer traffic and average spend. With a strong local brand and an increasing awareness of this business’s capabilities within the contract catering sector, this business benefits from strong word of mouth recommendation amongst the Facilities Managers of local enterprises, keen to offer a high level of catering to their staff whilst minimising overheads. The business also has a well designed, informative and easy to navigate website that performs well within all the major search engines for all appropriate search terms.

Support & training:

The current Owners will provide full business familiarisation, training and handover to ensure a smooth transfer of the business to new Owners.

Reasons for selling:

Having grown the business rapidly over the past five years the current Owners believe the time is right to pass the business on to new Owners to build upon the excellent foundations already laid.