CH&CO, which holds a Royal Warrant for catering services to The Queen, says the deal will bring in an additional £137m in turnover and expand its portfolio by 330 sites across the UK and Ireland.
Allister Richards will stay on as managing director at Gather & Gather, and the company will continue to provide catering for Mitie clients under a strategic management partnership.
Gather & Gather launched in 2013 and serves over 250,000 customers daily across workplaces, historic venues and outdoor events.
It has sought to reimagine workplace dining with a focus on nutrition, encouraging chefs to work with local produce. In London it has brought together suppliers, many based at Borough Market, to create a ‘London Larder’ for its chefs to buy ingredients from.
The company has opened two cafes in Primark stores in Manchester and Glasgow this year, offering compostable coffee cups.
“This next step is an exciting opportunity for us to be part of a group that is dedicated to providing catering and hospitality services to its clients,” says Richards.
“In CH&CO, we have found our business a home where we can build on our success and continue to thrive in new and existing markets.”