Fame and fortune

In June last year Alison Robinson predicted that, for her catering company, Artizian, the next year would be "one of growth and moving forward". She was spot on. With new contracts, swelling staff numbers and links with various consultancy services, the Berkshire-based catering company is fast gaining a reputation as a formidable force within the industry.

All of the company's financial objectives have been exceeded, with turnover for the 12 months to the end of March totalling £3,773,630, an increase of 113% on the previous year. Projected turnover for this year is £5.5m.

But most pleasing for Robinson and joint managing director Jayne Billam is the type of business that the company now attracts. "It's most heartening that larger clients have the confidence to go with us," says Billam. "And we get referrals from them."

Important win

A referral from the company's flagship contract at entertainment software company Electronic Arts in Chertsey, Surrey, led to an important win at advertising agency Ogilvy in London's Canary Wharf, which in turn has led to interest from other companies moving into the area.

Having provided an interim service for six months while the company's catering facilities were refurbished, the contract was launched fully in March. For the 900 Ogilvy employees on site, 20 Artizian staff provide a 70-seat caf‚; a coffee and juice bar, which becomes a licensed bar in the evening; and hospitality services, such as canapés at launches attended by some 700 people. It was a challenge.

"We had to offer something to compete with the 43 food outlets within Canary Wharf," says Robinson. The contract is worth £875,000 in annual turnover.

Not worth as much financially, but with added prestige, is a contract won in June and due to start in September. Having outgrown its New Bond Street premises in London, Sotheby's auctioneers is taking 54,000sq ft of space at Olympia 2 and has chosen Artizian to assist in giving the company's new site a more contemporary image. The challenge for Artizian is that, in addition to the 100 Sotheby's staff on site, the general public will be using the 60-seat café under construction. "It's a different culture to work with," says Billam. Worth £325,000 in annual turnover, the nil-subsidy contract will be a very commercial environment, charging high-street prices of about £7.50 for a main course.

Outside London, new contracts include software companies Business Objectives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and Siebel Systems UK in Egham, Surrey, providing £370,000 and £369,000 in annual turnover respectively.

Elsewhere in the portfolio, existing Artizian clients have benefited from moves to strengthen the company's infrastructure. Purchasing consultants the Complete Catering Company have been brought on board within the past six months to manage purchasing across the 15 contracts.

"We had been thinking about it for some time, and as we recruited more high-calibre chefs from the restaurant industry, we felt we needed to change the supplier list to meet their needs," says Billam. Taking a 3% cut of any savings it makes, the consultant is sourcing suppliers from the hotel and restaurant sector. "We don't want suppliers normally associated with contact caterers," says Robinson.

In April Petra Priest joined the head office staff as area manager for the Home Counties, allowing Sally Jackson Grimes more time to concentrate on her role as openings manager. The same month saw the appointment of Bernie Ford as finance and audit manager who, under finance director Jackie Brain, handles head office accounts and payroll for the 129 Artizian employees.

As the number of employees has grown, Robinson and Billam decided they needed a human resources manager and so took on Pauline Vallance. Working 20 hours a week, Vallance has joined on a consultancy basis, with her duties including operating a helpline for employees and dealing with contract issues. The role is expected to expand with the continued growth of the company.

The story so far

Artizian Catering Services began in December 1996 with a £30,000 investment from Alison Robinson and had an annual turnover of about £460,000. A year ago the company held 11 contracts, providing a total annual turnover of £2.5m. Gaining the large Electronic Arts contract in Surrey last year elevated Artizian into a different league, and more prestigious contracts have followed, culminating in a projected turnover of £5.5m for the current year.

Artizian Catering Services

4 Spring Meadows Business Centre, Wargrave, Berkshire RG10 8PZ
Tel: 0118-940 4440
Web site:www.artizian.co.uk

Managing director and owner: Alison Robinson
Joint managing director: Jayne Billam
First year's turnover: £460,000
Turnover for year ending March 2001: £3,773,630
Projected turnover for current year: £5.5m
Number of contracts: 15
Total number of staff: 129

Next week: the Globe one year on