Mount Charles named the UK's fastest growing foodservice company
Belfast-based caterer Mount Charles Group has topped a list of the top 20 fastest growing foodservice operators in the UK.
The firm went straight to the number one spot as a new entry in the 2015 Foodservice Growth report, compiled by AlixPartners and EP, after achieving 32.5% compound annual growth from a turnover of £25.5m.
It was followed by Olive Catering Services and CH&Co Group with growth rates of 31.9% and 29.9% respectively.
Concerto Group featured in fourth place, up from position 10 last year, while Servest Catering completed the top five, having jumped 14 places from 2014.
The report, now in its third year, assesses foodservice providers on their profits and accounts, measuring their growth rate over a period of three years.
Cathal Geoghegan, managing director of the Mount Charles Group, said: "It is a real honour to be recognised in the Foodservice Growth report, and as a new entrant we couldn't be happier to have topped the list.
"Being ranked as the UK's fastest growing foodservice provider is a testament to the hard work of all of our employees who maintain the highest standards of service and continue to help us grow the business.
"It's especially gratifying when you take into consideration the calibre of the competition and the fact that the report compares firms on a national scale."
John Hamill, managing director at Servest Catering, said: "Last year, Servest Catering secured many blue chip contracts, which has seen us move forward at a considerable pace. These business wins have also allowed us to grow in sectors such as media, legal and finance."
He added: "Customers are at the centre of everything we do."
Blue Apple, has the lowest turnover (£9.9m) of the 20 companies listed but jumped five places to position 12. Ruston Toms, sales director at Blue Apple, said: "We're definitely punching above our weight."
Brian Allanson, Blue Apple CEO, added: "This is great news for the business and our teams whom have worked so hard through some difficult trading conditions over the last few years."
Tom Cox, director at AlixPartners, who wrote the report's sector review, said: "There is little doubt that the foodservice market has risen with the economic tide but it is also clear that everyone now has to work harder for growth because the level of competition in the sector is fiercer than ever."
Top 20 fastest growing foodservice companies in the UK, from the Foodservice Growth Report
| Rank 2015 | Rank 2014 | Company | Turnover | Profit | Three-year profit CAGR |
| 1 | - | Mount Charles Group | £25.5m | £2.1m | 32.5% |
| 2 | 16 | Olive Catering Services | £20.5m | £1.3m | 31.9% |
| 3 | - | CH&Co Group | £114.7m | £2.9m | 29.9% |
| 4 | 10 | Concerto Group | £33.5m | £1.7m | 28.3% |
| 5 | 19 | Servest Catering | £58.6m | £5.2m | 22.9% |
| 6 | re-entry | Company of Cooks | £34.7m | £1.9m | 21.0% |
| 7 | 9 | Westbury Street Holdings | £590.7m | £43.9m | 19.0% |
| 8 | 18 | Connect Catering | £11.9m | £0.3m | 17.3% |
| 9 | 1 | Harbour & Jones | £33.0m | £2.4m | 16.8% |
| 10 | 8 | Wilson Vale | £20.0m | £1.9m | 16.6% |
| 11 | - | Artizian | £13.0m | £0.3m | 11.5% |
| 12 | 17 | Blue Apple Contract Catering | £9.9m | £0.6m | 11.2% |
| 13 | 11 | Thomas Franks | £19.9m | £0.9m | 11.1% |
| 14 | 4 | Vacherin | £13.8m | £0.7m | 10.8% |
| 15 | re-entry | Independent Catering | £10.6m | £1.0m | 8.7% |
| 16 | - | Pabulum | £21.6m | £1.1m | 7.4% |
| 17 | re-entry | Catering Academy | £30.0m | £1.6m | 5.8% |
| 18 | - | Entiér | £40.2m | £1.7m | 4.7% |
| 19 | - | Edwards & Blake | £14.7m | £0.9m | 3.5% |
| 20 | - | T(N)S Catering Management | £11.7m | £0.9m | 3.1% |
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