Try GOLD - Free
Compass to buy rival for £475m
Evening Standard
|January 22, 2024
CONTRACT catering giant Compass is set to snap up a rival that provides hospitality at a range of prestigious London venues including the Royal Opera House, Kew Gardens and Abbey Road Studios, in a £475 million deal.
Compass said it has reached an agreement for the takeover of royal warrant holder CH&CO, which owns the Company of Cooks, Gather & Gather, Vacherin and Blue Apple brands.
The company, which also works with Royal Academy of Arts, the Southbank Centre, RSA House, and Old Royal Naval College, has been owned by City-based private equity firm Equistone since 2019. It generates annual turnover of around £475 million from contracts with sectors including business, sports and leisure, education, and healthcare.
This story is from the January 22, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Evening Standard
The London Standard
Why we all fell in love with zany fashion
From JW Anderson's bronze peaches to Loewe's playful bags, the style set have got their sense of humour back.
4 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
The ultimate London guide for first-time buyers
From new-builds to no-deposit mortgages, how to make the most of lower prices.
7 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
A SAUNTER AROUND SYDNEY WITH RICK STEIN
The chef and TV star adores the fish at Margaret, knows where to take a shark- proof swim and loves a bar crawl in Surry Hills - preferably to the sound of Cold Chisel
4 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
'I DON'T WANT TO BE IDOLISED, BUT IF PEOPLE IDOLISE ME, I CAN'T HELP IT'
As she conquers the UK charts, Nigerian megastar Tems talks about working with Rihanna, amplifying the voices of African women and flying the flag for real music
7 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
Inside the battle for the soul of music and the search for an antidote to AI-generated slop
Neo soul singer Sienna Rose is the full package.
2 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
'When I was at my lowest ebb, that hour of connection and hot lunch meant everything'
As our final appeal total hits £2.65m, we meet a client of a charity your support helps
4 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
Labour's policies are pushing restaurants over the edge — I've never seen it so bad _
I remember first coming to this incredible city years ago, and in the past three decades I've seen many talented chefs carving out their reputations, open amazing restaurants - but now the industry is facing a bloodbath.
4 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
Alas, poor Hamnet - it's a beautiful film but the storyline is utter tosh
Chloe Zhao's adaptation of the Maggie O'Farrell novel Hamnet has had rave reviews, so I could not wait to see it.
3 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
Pochettino holds real appeal as the unifying force at Tottenham
The club’s former boss has made no secret of his desire to return to the helm one day.
2 mins
January 22, 2026
The London Standard
'I HAD SOMETHING I NEEDED TO EXPRESS ... NOT BEING ABLE TO WAS KILLING ME'
Jacob Alonhasjustscooped the 2026 Brits Critics' Choice Awardand with their intimately hauntingfolk, the young Scottish singersongwriter may be the hottest new talentin years.
6 mins
January 22, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size

