Host Management dismisses Graysons acquisition rumour

Host Management has dismissed rumours that it is set to acquire catering business Graysons Restaurants.

Independent school meal provider Brookwood Partnership snapped up the education arm of Graysons for an undisclosed sum earlier this year, as the caterer sought to focus on its event catering and business & industry portfolio.

Industry insiders have since suggested that Host Management, which has been very active on the acquisition trail since Bill Toner took the helm as chief executive from founder Jerry Brand, might be ready to pick up the rest of the Graysons business.

But Toner shrugged off the speculation. He commented: "It is well known that Host is in a period of expansion and would always consider acquisitions to boost our strong organic growth. But there is no substance to this rumour."

Toner made the company's first acquisition in July 2012, buying concession caterer Couture for an undisclosed sum and entering the heritage sector.

Two months later, Toner bought Juice for Life , an operator of retail catering contracts in the leisure sector. Together, the two acquisitions helped take Host's annualised turnover to £25m.

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