The boutique caterer, Bartlett Mitchell, has acquired specialist event caterer, Inn or Out for an undisclosed figure.
The deal, structured through the set up of a new holding company, Bartlett Mitchell Services Ltd, will see two subsidiary companies – Bartlett Mitchell for business & industry catering, and Inn or Out Events catering for high profile, one-off events and fixed venue catering. The combined turnover of the new company will be over £30m with a team of 700 employees.
Wendy Bartlett (pictured), Chief Executive of the new holding company, said, “Buying Inn or Out enables Bartlett Mitchell to enter new markets and it gives Inn or Out Events access to bartlett mitchell’s solid systems and procedures.
'We have the financial stability to cope with the peaks and troughs of events business and our highly experienced central functions such as finance, HR, marketing and purchasing will help take Inn or Out Events to the next level.
'Bartlett Mitchell will also benefit from additional commercial expertise and the input of a dynamic and creative events team that will help develop a unique approach to directors dining and hospitality.”
Bartlett Mitchell will gain a London office and central production kitchens, which will also be used as a base for their new Chefs Academy for training to chefs from all divisions.
Bartlett explained the new set up, “We will essentially be running two companies under the Bartlett Mitchell Services Ltd parent company. I will continue to head up Bartlett Mitchell as I do now, and our current Deputy Managing Director, Francois Gautreaux (pictured), will become Managing Director of Bartlett Mitchell Services Ltd and he’ll be responsible for making sure that the support services are there for all subsidiaries to use and ensure best practice is shared across all companies.”
Sam Lee will continue as Managing Director of the Inn Or Out Events business, whilst Lena Bjork, the founder of Inn or Out, will continue as Creative Director.