The Corporate team at Field Seymour Parkes has advised the shareholders of its longstanding client Blue Apple, the workplace catering business, on their recent merger with CH & Co Catering Group.
Blue Apple, which has a turnover of £14 million and employs more than 300 people, collaborates closely with its clients to deliver a truly bespoke fresh food service using the best locally sourced ingredients. Blue Apple has an extensive and varied range of workplace clients within its portfolio and operates across the south-east, home counties, midlands and south-west at 58 different workplace locations.
CH&Co is a dynamic catering and hospitality business operating in many sectors across the UK and Ireland including workplaces, state and independent education, healthcare, venues, stadia, destinations and events. CH&Co are also Royal Warrant holders.
The merger expands CH&Co’s dedicated workplace portfolio brands to now include Blue Apple, Gather & Gather and Vacherin, strengthening its positioning in the marketplace. Brian Allanson and Ruston Toms, co-founders of Blue Apple, will continue to manage the Blue Apple business.
The merger will ensure Blue Apple continues to develop its successful business whilst allowing it to also benefit from CH&Co’s support team resources as well as offer the Blue Apple team additional career development opportunities.
On working with FSP on the transaction Brian Allanson, CEO of Blue Apple, commented “the support, guidance and comfort given to the shareholders by the FSP team during the course of the transaction was immensely appreciated. We have worked with many members of the FSP team over the course of the last 25 years and always received solid and reliable advice delivered in a very understanding and supportive way, regardless of the nature of the advice being sought. This merger was a one time opportunity for our team and Jeremy and his team helped us secure the best possible outcome for all.
The transaction was led by Corporate Partner Jeremy Parkes with assistance from Rachael Maunder (Partner, Corporate), Katie Burley (Partner, Employment), Joanna Stepien (Associate, Commercial Property) and Edward Deutrom (Trainee Solicitor, Corporate).
