Nelson Hind denies rumour of sale to French conglomerate

Nelson Hind, the largest independent contract caterer in the UK, has again denied rumours it has been sold to a larger rival.

The suitor this time is said to be Elior, the French-owned group which in recent years has snapped up High Table, Brian Smith and Catering & Allied. The sale price has been put at £20m.

Other firms understood to have been interested in buying Nelson Hind included Aramark, Initial Catering and Campbell Bewley.

Unsuccessful suitors are said to have been told their bids have not been accepted and that a trade sale has been completed.

But Nelson Hind's executive chairman Chris Hind denied that the company had been sold or was even on the market. "It's news to me," he said. "We get these rumours every two to three months."

The firm, now in its 10th year, was enjoying record growth, with turnover standing at about £43.5m, Hind added.

Tim West, chief executive of Elior UK, also denied his firm had bought, or was even about to buy, Nelson Hind. "These rumours have been going round for a while, but Nelson Hind has remained doggedly independent, both publicly and privately," he said.