Wilson Vale’s audited year-end results (31st December 2018) show that turnover has increased by 11% in 2018 in line with projections to just under £34m, with profitability up also.
Significant retentions and new growth have buoyed Wilson Vale’s success.
Through natural cycles, seven of its clients across ten locations went to out to tender last year for further extended terms against very determined opposition. Wilson Vale retained six of them and is currently awaiting a decision on the final one.
Six new business gains throughout the year include Herne Hill School, Wilson Vale’s first independent school in Central London; Kent College, a large independent boarding school in Pembridge, and Lane End, an award-winning conference centre near High Wycombe.
Andrew Wilson, co-founder of Wilson Vale, said, “It’s good to report that our continued investment in our management structure and resources have resulted in a positive set of numbers for 2018.
“Investment on its own, of course, is never enough. Hard work, commitment, innovation, enjoyment and strong determination to maintain the highest level of client service standards go hand-in-hand with it. Our retentions are undoubtedly as a result of this focus on relationships with our clients.”
The company’s clear commitment to an operational approach and its singular ethos of looking after existing clients continues to reap business benefits.
Wilson Vale now has a portfolio of 95 clients, serviced and supported by an operations team of four general managers and twelve area managers, which is a class leading ratio within the contract catering sector.
Wilson added, “We continue, some would say in an old-fashioned conservative model, to have no debt or bank facilities. This gives us flexibility and financial autonomy, ensuring that we maintain control at all times.
“Take our purchasing, for example. We have over 450 individual suppliers, many of whom are family-owned artisan producers and growers. Some of these may only service one or two of our locations yet they are vitally important to our approach,” he said.
In a company where menus change every day, food innovation, seasonality and craft skills remain a focus.
Year end 2018 shows that Wilson Vale employs 818 people, many of whom have grown with the business and have been developed in-house.
Despite a 10% increase in costs throughout the year due to significant investment in every area of the business, including a new sustainable corporate headquarters and a new HR/Payroll system to support its growth, the independent catering company maintained a healthy ratio to profit growth.
Looking ahead, Wilson expects the trend of careful turnover and profit growth to continue in 2019, but he believes that this is unlikely to be at the same level as 2018.
He said, “We have a strong management team in place that has the capacity to cope comfortably with our expected growth this year. Of course, we are not immune to a potential fall in business confidence, but we are fortunate to partner with strong successful businesses and our focus will remain on supporting them and keeping our food and service standards high.”
Wilson Vale’s projected annual turnover for 2019 is £35.5m.