News

Company of Cooks has extended its partnerships with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and its London event venue, RCP London Events, for a further three years, in a deal worth £10million. The dedicated Company of Cooks team will continue…

We’re delighted to announce that our COO, Allister Richards, has been appointed the new chair of The Springboard Charity. Allister is an active champion of the charity’s work to promote hospitality careers to the next generation and supports disadvantaged and…

Vacherin, London’s specialist caterer, has appointed international coffee expert Marc-Pierre Dietrich as its first ever Head of Coffee. The new, specialist role has been created to drive forward Vacherin’s vision to create and deliver highly engaging, aspirational and customer-centric coffee…

Company of Cooks has extended its partnerships with all the Livery venues in its portfolio, securing over £18million in retained business in the City. The deals, which range from three to five years, see Company of Cooks continue to exclusively…

Vacherin’s Alex Rowe has had a fantastic start to 2025 with a promotion to Director of Food for the specialist London caterer. Alex’s promotion is in recognition of his leadership and achievements as Head of Food and his dedication to…

As we step into 2025, we have some wonderful news to share! Our CEO, has been awarded an MBE for services to the Hospitality Sector in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours List 2025. This is deserved recognition of…

Gather & Gather UK is officially a Great Place to Work! The workplace caterer has been awarded Great Place to Work Certification, an accolade based entirely on feedback about the Gather & Gather workplace experience from the people who know…

Great Place To Work® and Fortune Europe have included Gather & Gather Ireland in the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Europe™ for 2024 Gather & Gather is a sustainable food service company which currently employs over 650 people…

Vacherin has joined forces with Westminster Kingsway College and Chef Sabrina Gidda to launch PLATE, a next generation chef talent programme specifically designed to develop, support and inspire students throughout their learning and into successful chef careers that allow their…

Company of Cooks, Gather & Gather and Vacherin, together with social enterprise Well Grounded, have celebrated the achievements of the 2024 cohort of Specialty Barista Traineeship graduates and their longstanding partnership. The impact of the three hospitality businesses’ support of…

Deal to acquire CH&CO has been finalised following regulatory approvals  Compass Group UK & Ireland, the country’s largest family of food and support services companies, is excited to announce that it has completed the deal to acquire the dynamic catering…

Company of Cooks is delighted to announce that in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces it will reopen the iconic restaurant, The Orangery at Kensington Palace, on 1 May. Historic Royal Palaces – the independent charity that cares for the public-facing…

Ciaran McGill, a Head Chef for Gather & Gather Ireland has been crowned CH&CO Chef of the Year 2024. Ciaran triumphed against strong competition at the grand finals, held at the University of West London. The cohort of talented finalists…

Vacherin has launched a chef-focused sustainability initiative in partnership with renowned chef and restaurateur Doug McMaster and his team at the no-waste restaurant Silo. The Silo Stages project is designed to accelerate the specialist London caterer’s commitment to reducing food…

University College London (UCL) and its catering partner CH&CO, have rolled out a trial of the Reewild app, which helps their community to track and reduce their dietary carbon footprint and incentivises more sustainable choices. UCL, CH&CO and climate tech…

This exciting acquisition brings together two well-known names in the industry Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services businesses, has today agreed to acquire CH&CO, subject to regulatory approval. CH&CO is a dynamic and successful…

Vacherin, London’s specialist contract caterer, is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with chef and author Sabrina Gidda. Starting in January, the dynamic three-year collaboration sees Sabrina join Vacherin as Culinary Consultant, working alongside Vacherin’s Head of Food Alex Rowe and…

Education caterer, Pabulum, has announced that it is to join forces with independent caterer and Royal Warrant holder, CH&CO. The merger expands CH&CO’s education business. Based in Fleet, Hampshire, Pabulum operates in over 100 schools within a 125-mile radius of…

Vacherin has raised more than £22,000 through a special fundraising event to support the valuable work of Luminary Bakery. The Vacherin London 20 charity spectacular was a core part of the London catering specialist’s 20th anniversary celebrations that brought together…

Workplace caterer, Blue Apple, has announced that it is to join forces with independent caterer and Royal Warrant holder, CH&CO.   The merger expands CH&CO’s workplace portfolio, strengthening its positioning in the marketplace. Blue Apple joins CH&CO alongside its existing workplace…

Company of Cooks has enjoyed a strong first half of 2023, securing over £120million in retained business. The five-year deals extend successful partnerships with six prestigious clients and venues across London: The Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, the…

The 40th anniversary of The Cateys proved a very special night for our CEO Bill Toner. Bill was the deserved recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded the prestigious honour at a fantastic ceremony at the JW Marriott…

Congratulations to Craig Steedman, Executive chef for Scotland and Northern Ireland who was named Banqueting and Events Chef of the Year at the 2023 Scottish Excellence Awards. The awards recognise and reward the highest standards in hospitality, foodservice and tourism…

Piazza at the Royal Opera House, the Covent Garden restaurant and terrace set within the spectacular surroundings of one of London’s most beautiful buildings, relaunches on Tuesday 27th September. Previously open exclusively to ticket holders, Piazza is now open to…

Gather & Gather’s collaboration with Oxford Brookes University and Co-op has won the Business Partnership of the Year award at the CUBO Awards 2022. The annual CUBO (College & University Business Officers) Awards recognise exceptional achievements in commercial and campus services, including…

Gather & Gather, part of catering and hospitality company CH&CO, has extended its partnership with Charlton Athletic Football club as the exclusive caterer for The Valley stadium and Sparrows Lane training ground with a new a five-year deal. Gather &…

CH&CO has appointed Nigel Forbes as an Executive Director to strengthen its strategic partnerships Working closely with CH&CO’s leadership team, Nigel will use his expertise and knowledge to nurture the catering and hospitality company’s growing partnership with facilities management and…

CH&CO has celebrated its 2022 cohort of graduate baristas, all of whom have successfully completed an eight-week Specialty Barista Traineeship. CH&CO’s venues and workplace businesses, Venues by CH&CO, Gather & Gather and Vacherin, have partnered with social enterprise Well Grounded…

An intimate dining setting alongside ‘Superbloom’ at the Tower of London; the floral spectacular that marks the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. Ultimate Experience, the seasonal venues and events specialist that is part of CH&CO, announces the launch…

eve – the market-leading full-service venue and events solution that is part of the hospitality and catering business CH&CO – has enhanced its portfolio of unique and inspiring venues with an exclusive partnership agreement with Chiswick House & Gardens. The…

CH&CO has crowned Ricky Matonti its Chef of the Year 2022. The talented Head Chef who works within the Venues by CH&CO business, showcased his exceptional culinary skills, creativity and sustainability know-how at the final of the CH&CO Chef of…

CH&CO has retained the maximum three-star Food Made Good rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). The top rating has been secured across the diverse catering and hospitality business – that operates at over 900 sites across workplaces, education, healthcare,…

Vacherin – CH&CO’s specialist workplace caterer focusing on the London market – has developed and relaunched its award-winning healthy eating range, Nutritious + Delicious, to support the food, nutrition and lifestyle choices of its customers in the workplace. Nutritious +…

CH&CO is proactively challenging unconscious bias with the introduction of training for all team members across the diverse catering and hospitality business. Launched on International Women’s Day (IWD), the training supports IWD’s global campaign #BreakTheBias that encourages action to call…

CH&CO has launched the Sales and Marketing Academy by eve to exclusively support the development and growth of team members in its Venues by CH&CO and eve businesses. Launched during National Apprenticeship Week 2022, the Sales and Marketing Academy by eve embodies the business’s commitment to…

Venues by CH&CO has been appointed the catering partner for Brewers’ Hall, which reopens in April 2022 following the renovation of the eminent venue in the City of London. The partnership, which is worth £2million over a period of five…

CH&CO has promoted its Head of Operational Procurement, Samantha Davis, to the new role of Group Procurement & Supply Chain Director. The decisive move brings the diverse catering and hospitality business’s procurement and supply chain teams together under one strong…

CH&CO has announced enhanced family benefits for every employee across the group. The new family-friendly procedure offers greater support for employees and their families, over and above the current statutory minimum entitlements from maternity leave and paternity leave to adoption…

The London Venue and Catering Awards 2021 proved an incredibly successful event for the Venues by CH&CO team. The team and its portfolio of iconic London venues walked away with a phenomenal eight awards in hand, including Best Catering Team and Best Catering…

CH&CO has crowned Julia Mello its Barista of the Year 2021. The talented Head Barista who works at University College London, showcased her first-class technical skills, knowledge and creativity at the final of the CH&CO Barista of the Year, standing…

Congratulations to Katy Thompson, our managing director for Venues by CH&CO, who has been awarded The Freedom of The City of London. This very special honour that remains a unique part of London’s history was presented to Katy at a…

CH&CO has appointed a Sustainability Business Partner to deliver its bold CSR strategy across the whole group and support the sustainability aspirations of its clients. Clare Clark is responsible for upholding and driving forward CH&CO’s sustainability commitments, which have already…

Gather & Gather has brought the craft of specialty coffee to University College London (UCL) in the form of a new Brew Bar – the first at a university in London. The unique space at UCL’s faculty of the built…

It was a great night for the CH&CO Education at the Foodservice Cateys 2021 as the team was crowned Education Caterer of the Year. We may be biased, but this was an incredibly deserved award in recognition of the team’s…

Deborah Homshaw, the managing director of CH&CO Education and Healthcare, donned her gown and cap to take to the stage as guest speaker at the Westminster Kingsway College graduation ceremony. The very special event on 4 October, recognised and celebrated…

CH&CO has extended its successful Gathered Table initiative across the whole of the group to help shape its distinctive approach to food in each of its specialist markets. The Gathered Table brings together the brightest experts in hospitality to inspire,…

London Metropolitan University is pleased to announce it has awarded a new catering and hospitality contract to Gather & Gather. The two-year deal, which began on 1st August 2021 and has a value of £1.5million, will see Gather & Gather bring…

We’re all incredibly proud of our COO, Allister Richards who was victorious at this year’s Cateys and brought home the Foodservice Caterer Award. Allister joined the CH&CO family as part of our acquisition of Gather & Gather from Mitie in…

13th July 2021 London’s much-loved Spanish chef José Pizarro – who owns and runs the acclaimed José Pizarro group of restaurants, pubs and tapas bars – is delighted to announce that this August he is to open two vibrant restaurants…

6th May 2021 CH&CO has strengthened its support of UK hospitality charity, Springboard, and its new initiative ‘Springboard to 2022’ with two clear commitments. The independent catering and hospitality business has pledged to advertise all its entry level roles with…

30th September 2020 The shortlist for the 2020 Catey Awards has been revealed and today was also the final of the National Chef of the Year Competition. Both have given us a good cause to celebrate the achievements of our colleagues. Vacherin Head chef,…

23rd June 2020 Gather & Gather Ireland has launched ‘ Delivered by Gather & Gather’, a physically-distant workplace dining service which delivers across Dublin. A wide selection of food options are available which are safely produced, individually prepared and packaged,…

CH&CO’s exceptional health and safety performance has been recognised and rewarded with a RoSPA Gold Medal Award. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has awarded its highest accolade across the…

24th September 2020 Gather & Gather, which is part of CH&CO, a specialist catering and hospitality company, opens its first retail shop as a Co-op franchisee at Oxford Brookes University. The Headington Campus Co-op of Oxford Brookes University will be…

4th March 2020 Southampton Football Club is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement in principle with Gather & Gather to enter into a new catering and events partnership. Gather & Gather, which launched in 2013, is part of…

25th March 2020 We wanted to let you know how we are working during the Covid-19 outbreak. These truly are unprecedented and difficult times. As the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said, the Covid-19 outbreak is the worst public health…

19th May 2020 CH&CO is delighted to announce that it has completed a refinancing and fundraising with its existing lenders and shareholders. The proceeds of the fundraising, when combined with the facilities provided by the lenders, ensure the group has a…

2nd March 2020 CH&CO, the independent catering and hospitality business with specialism in the education sectors, has launched The Education Board by CH&CO to address and take action around the prominent issues of physical and mental health and sustainability through food and…

28th February 2020 We’re very proud to be the largest and most diverse contract caterer to be awarded the top-level three-star Food Made Good rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) and in 2019 we were awarded the Feed People Well Award at the…

28th February 2020 In a joint statement, independent caterer and Royal Warrant holding company, CH&CO, and boutique caterer, Vacherin, have announced that Vacherin has joined the CH&CO family of catering businesses.  Vacherin, based in London’s Hatton Garden area, has a…

12th February 2020 Independent catering and hospitality business, CH&CO, has announced an operational restructure, including a series of senior level promotions, to strengthen the leadership team as it enters its next phase of growth. The progressive move follows a successful…

7th February 2020 The eve by CH&CO team has good reason to celebrate as this year’s finalists for the Campaign Experience Awards are announced.  They’ve been shortlisted in the Venue Experience category. The Campaign Experience Awards are the flagship awards…

6th February 2020 To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2020, CH&CO has launched the CH&CO Grow With Us Apprenticeship Academy, confirming the company’s commitment to the development of new and existing team members. The inclusive approach to apprenticeships supports employees from…

23rd January 2020 Rory Larkin (ANutr) tells us everything we’ve ever wanted to know about sugar consumption Sugar consumption is a hot topic and it’s frequently under the firing line in the media. However, there are so many misconceptions surrounding…

4th June 2020 The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awarded its highest accolade across the diverse independent hospitality and catering business, which includes workplaces, education, healthcare, destinations, events and venues. The RoSPA Health & Safety Awards scheme…

30th January 2020 Two talented apprentices from CH&CO Workplaces have been shortlisted for the Purple Umbrella Awards 2020. The achievements of Jennifer Gomez Calle and Ben Garnett-Sinclair have been recognised in the Best Chef Apprentice Level 2 and Best Chef…