Reading: Education caterer Brookwood celebrates 20 years

The Brookwood Partnership, specialist education caterer of CH&Co Group, recently celebrated 20 years in the industry with 170 managers at its annual conference. Following the caterer’s recent merger with CH&Co Group, managing partners, Kate Martin and Sue Parfett were also joined by colleagues from their new sister companies to celebrate the two decades. 

Founded in 1996 by Kate Martin, Sue Parfett and the late Graham Sibthorp, Brookwood quickly became a leading education caterer. The trio made their mark in the industry by offering pupils exciting, freshly-cooked, healthy meals that they wanted to eat. This made Brookwood a successful and unique business long before TV chefs started delivering the same message. 20 years on, Brookwood provides the catering services at over 150 schools and employs around 1,100 people.

Parfett said: “We opened our first contract at short notice and just after Christmas.  We didn’t have any employees, so the three of us did all the work and had one of the best, most enjoyable days we have ever had.  It wasn’t long before our approach was noticed, and soon it became clear that our assumptions were right as we won more and more business. It was then that we became employers, although even now we can’t resist the kitchen, an oven or even a mop.”

Martin added: “Originally our focus was solely on the independent school sector. But for some time we had thought our experiences would equally benefit the publicly funded sector. So in 2013, we expanded into this sector by acquiring the education contracts from another catering company; and ABsolutely Catering was born.”

20 of Brookwood’s chefs have shared their favourite recipes from over the past two decades in a celebratory recipe book.