The Brookwood Partnership, specialist education caterer of CH&Co Group, has celebrated 20 years in the industry with 170 managers at its annual conference.
Every year, Brookwood brings together its managers for a day of communication, development and recognition. Following the caterer’s recent merger with CH&Co Group, Managing Partners, Kate Martin and Sue Parfett were also joined by colleagues from their new sister companies to celebrate two decades.
Founded in 1996, by Kate Martin, Sue Parfett and the late Graham Sibthorp, Brookwood quickly became a leading education caterer. The trio made their mark in the industry by offering pupils exciting, freshly cooked, healthy meals that they wanted to eat. This made Brookwood a successful and unique business long before TV chefs started delivering the same message. 20 years on, Brookwood provides the catering services at over 150 schools and employs around 1,100 people.
Celebrating two decades in the sector, Managing Partner, Parfett said, “In the beginning, it was just the three of us. We opened our first contract at short notice and just after Christmas. We didn’t have any employees. So we did all the work between us and had one of the best, most enjoyable days we have ever had. It wasn’t long before our approach was noticed and soon our assumptions were right as we won more and more business - it was then that we became employers – although even now, we can’t resist the kitchen, an oven or even a mop!”
Fellow Managing Partner, Martin, added, “Originally our focus was solely within the independent school sector. But for some time we had always thought our experiences would equally benefit the publicly funded sector. So in 2013, we expanded into this sector by acquiring the education contracts from another catering company; and ABsolutely Catering was born.”
The pair went on to say, “In the year we celebrate 20 years of Brookwood, we are also delighted to have become part of the CH&Co Group opening a new chapter for Brookwood.”
In celebration of 20 years, twenty of Brookwood’s Chefs have shared their favourite recipes from over the last two decades in a celebratory recipe book.
