Hospitality and catering company Aspire Hospitality Ltd has purchased London-based business Inn or Out and Northampton based business Portfolio Events to expand its reach and remit across the UK.
Following a successful seven year partnership which included the catering operations at seven British Grand Prix and also the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in 2009, Sean Valentine and Steven Saunders have parted company by mutual agreement to focus on running their own individual businesses.
Sean Valentine will continue as sole owner and CEO of the Aspire brand, in order to focus on developing the event and fixed-site catering offerings for which they already have a high reputation within the industry. Steven Saunders is continuing his relationship with the circuit as the CEO of Silverstone Hospitality Ltd, providing all the fixed site catering for the circuit 365 days a year.
The purchase of Inn or Out (formerly owned and managed by Lena Björck) and Portfolio Events (set up by Sue Wood in 1984 and now run by her daughter Billie Passchier) enables the extended company to operate on a truly national scale, with its infrastructure stretching from Leeds to London, and newly established headquarters in Bermondsey, London.
Regional offices in Northampton and Leeds allow the company to effectively serve the fixed sites where they are the onsite caterers, including Ragley Hall and Harewood House. Both acquired companies already have well-established operations in this sector, as listed caterers in some extremely iconic and prestigious sites including Althorp House in Northamptonshire and Banqueting House in London.
The acquisition of these two brands will strengthen Aspire Hospitality’s business with proven expertise and delivery in the catering and events sector from Inn or Out since 1997 and Portfolio Events since 2004. Aspire will build on its newly reinforced foundations to continue to deliver restaurant-style standard, high quality catering within the events sector and their fixed site venues.
Existing and new clients will now benefit from the company’s broadened expertise, a consolidated national structure providing increased central resources, and a renewed focus on the quality of the management team, employees and staff. The senior teams in both acquired businesses will remain in place and enable each individual brand to grow and develop within the wider structure.
About Aspire
Aspire Hospitality Ltd is based in Bermondsey, London, with regional offices in Leeds and Northampton. The newly extended company has 44 full-time employees, £5.5m annual turnover and operates under five brand names (Aspire Hospitality Ltd, Inn or Out, which includes sub-brand Langoustine, Portfolio Events, and the newly acquired gastro pub The Pack Saddle at Mapledurham, Berkshire).
The company is run by Group CEO Sean Valentine and Group MD Chris Peedell.
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