Restaurants at Work owner buys caterer Jill Bartlett

The Bright Futures Group (BFG) has purchased London-based caterer Jill Bartlett & Company in a deal worth around £700,000.

The deal is the first for holding company BFG, which owns the Restaurants at Work catering company, since it floated on the PLUS Market in 2009.

Jill Bartlett & Company, which was founded in 2003, includes clients such as city law firm Shearman and Sterling and will work with the group and oversee its Greater London operation. Jill Bartlett & Company’s 70 staff will join BFG, which has its headquarters at Epsom in Surrey.

Group chairman Tjalke Boersma said the acquisition was in line with the aims stated by the company when it floated, saying: “We have always said that we wanted to bring smaller, experienced quality operators into our group to increase our strength and geographical spread.

“Jill Bartlett & Company fit that description perfectly. It is a company with a very good reputation and several blue chip city clients. We hope that both companies will benefit from the move and are very much looking forward to working with Jill and her team.”

Restaurants at Work, which employs around 200 staff, was established in 1995 and bought by a management team including Boersma, a founder of Wilson Storey Halliday, in 2005. 

Jill Bartlett said:  “I have followed Restaurants at Work for some time and am glad to be joining their team.  I am sure that we will be able to grow the enlarged group very quickly and use our combined experience to add to our client portfolio."

Restaurants at Work moves into education sector >>

Contract caterer Restaurants at Work unveils expansion plans >>

Restaurants at Work takeover >>

Jill Bartlett wins Guardian deal >>


By Rosie Birkett

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