Reading: Charlton House wins £24m contracts
Independent catering company Charlton House has opened over £24 million worth of new business and contract retentions/extensions since January this year.
Valued over the life of the contracts, which range from one to five years in length, these high profile gains include the Mansion House, the Royal College of Surgeons and substantial B&I gains in the north of England such as the corporate headquarters of PZ Cussons in Manchester. The company has also retained its contracts with Butchers’ Hall and Haberdashers’ Hall in West Smithfield, London, collectively worth almost £2m in annual turnover.
The news comes as Charlton House announces a major rebranding programme to consolidate and strengthen the company’s position for the future.
Now operating under the parent company name, CH&Co, the organisation has launched five specialist divisions today: Charlton House (staff catering at B&I sites), Lusso (City and fine dining), Chester Boyd (livery halls and private venues), It’s the Agency (venues and events booking agency– launching on 21 June 2010) and Ampersand (iconic venue catering).
Robyn Jones, co-founder and chief executive of CH&Co said: “One of our fundamental core values is to offer a bespoke service. The rebranding of the business allows us to focus totally on the individuality of each market sector and the needs of our clients within each of those markets. It recognises our distinct areas of expertise and provides a much clearer definition to potential clients of what we can offer”.
With its roots historically in staff catering within the business & industry sector, the company has successfully developed into a multi-disciplinary organisation in recent years, with a growing portfolio of clients in the commercial sector, venues, public catering and most recently, in the highly prized City livery hall sector.
Robyn Jones said:”The rebranding gives us a better platform to retain existing business and develop further within each niche market to enable us to compete with smaller, specialist operators. Above all, it ensures that we continue to provide a truly personal service through smaller teams.“
According to Jones, the benefits also go beyond business development and growth.
She said:” This investment in the rebranding of the company has allowed us to promote and empower very talented individuals within our business and opens up new career opportunities for many more. As an Investors in People company since 1997, we see this as a major factor in our decision to take this step”.
Originally established by Tim and Robyn Jones at the height of a recession in 1991, the group now employs 2,000 people and has a projected annual turnover approaching £80 million. (Financial Y/E: 31st March 2011).
Tim Jones, co-founder and chairman of CH&Co, said: “This exciting milestone in our company history to date comes during economically and politically challenging times. It shows our ability to adapt and change within a diversifying marketplace, without losing any of the core values which still stand at the heart of this business.
“CH&Co which will remain inside each of our brands, and we envisage great sharing of ideas and talent across the divisions, with faster implementation of food and service developments and sustained business growth.”
