Leading independent London caterer Vacherin has reported that annual turnover has risen by 8.8% for the year ended 31 August 2015 – breaking the £15m barrier for the first time. It attributes the growth to two factors: a hugely successful performance in competitive tenders which contributed annual turnover value in excess of £2 million; and for the second successive year achieving a 100% retention level for businesses that underwent competitive tender – worth a further £2 million.
When added to the contract retentions, six new tender successes means that Vacherin now serves even more high profile contracts across London. Wins included the Battersea Power Station Development Corporation; Nordic corporate bank SEB; and specialist law firm Dechert. Last year the business was awarded a rare Sustainable Restaurant Association Three Star rating; scored Top 10 in The Sunday Times ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list; and was rated Top 20 in The Alix Partners Foodservice Growth Report. Innovations included the roll-out of technology that allows diners to use smart phones to review nutrients in a meal before buying – and then use their phone to pay as well.
Manging Director and Co-owner Mark Philpott: “our strategy of serving bespoke catering and front-of-house services in London’s commercial and institutional heartland is continuing to prove successful. This success is down to our ability to put clients’ priorities before our own; have absolute integrity; and obsess about food and service quality.
Finance Director and Co-owner Clive Hetherington: “our consistent business retention record together with our performance in competitive tenders in recent years has been instrumental in driving our growth – which in the last three years has seen our turnover increase by 38%. This has all been achieved through our commitment to steady organic growth in our core area of expertise. The result is a financially robust organisation with a strong balance sheet and prospects for the coming year continuing to look very positive.”