Compass Group, the world leader in food services, is expanding its activities in Belgium through the acquisition of event caterer Gourmet Invent. Compass has acquired 100% of the shares held by Coser Group (FR) and Good Invest.
As of 12 June 2019, Compass Group Belgium (Compass Group Belgilux NV/SA) has consolidated its activities through a takeover of the Ghent-based Gourmet Invent.
The event and hospitality caterer, mainly known as the house caterer of Waregem Koerse, Jumping Mechelen, the Ghelamco Arena (AA Gent), the Jan Breydel stadium (Club Brugge), the Regenboog stadium (Zulte Waregem) and the Bosuil stadium (Royal Antwerp), will be swapping its French owner for a Belgian one as a result of this transaction.
Bart Vandendooren, Gourmet Invent CEO: “We’ve come a long way as a company. Some time ago, the French catering firm Coser acquired 76% of our shares, but we felt the time had come to turn a corner and start looking for a new structural partner who could offer us growth potential and commercial clout. With an experienced partner like Compass Group, we’re not just guaranteeing our commercial growth; we’re also able to entrench our position as a trendsetter in our sector by remaining focused on our strengths: superior, innovative catering at fantastic locations and events with passionate and driven employees.”
Bart Matthijs, Compass Group Belgium Managing Director: “Through this acquisition, we’re strengthening our position in a segment that seamlessly ties in with our own activities and with the needs of our customers. Going forward, Gourmet Invent’s knowledge and experience will enable us to offer event catering of an even higher standard. In addition, this acquisition fits perfectly with the strategy of our parent company (Compass Group plc) to further strengthen our food services.”
Gourmet Invent carries significant weight in the industry, and the company has been one of the top three Belgian catering businesses for a number of years. The caterer has more over thirty years of experience and can rely on an excellent reputation in the area of private events, hospitality catering and corporate events. In addition, Gourmet Invent cooperates with around seventy partner locations spread across the whole of Belgium, including ICC Ghent, Hippologgia, Brussels Expo and Flanders Expo.
From an operational point of view, Gourmet Invent will remain a separate entity and will continue to offer catering activities from its headquarters at ICC Ghent under its own management and name.
Further financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
