What Rocket Food does

Rocket Food is a London-based luxury catering company founded in 1998 and operating as a trading name of Compass Contract Services (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of the FTSE-listed Compass Group PLC. The company specialises in end-to-end bespoke catering for corporate events, weddings, private parties, sports hospitality, and multi-day celebrations, with an additional workplace dining concept (Table to Table) that delivers fresh meals to corporate clients on a recurring basis. Its service offering spans menu design, in-house food preparation, front-of-house service, table styling, and event production coordination, delivered primarily on-site at the client's chosen venue.

The company holds accredited partner status at over 30 of London's most prestigious cultural and historic venues, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Design Museum, Royal Academy of Arts, Hampton Court Palace, and Kensington Palace, providing a structural distribution moat and a consistent pipeline of high-value event enquiries. Rocket's commercial model is professional services-based with entirely quote-based pricing; the website explicitly does not support online ordering, payment, or booking, and all commercial terms are agreed offline through written agreements. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales combined with event-driven acquisition (case studies, the Rocket Bulletin blog, Instagram, email newsletter, and the Rocket Private Views series at venues such as the V&A and Royal Academy).

Rocket Food does not operate a proprietary technology platform. The company's competitive positioning rests on 25+ years of brand heritage, venue access, in-house culinary and creative talent, a curated supplier network (Nyetimber, Gusbourne, Cobble Lane Cured, London Honey Co, WasteKnot, Brindisa), and the ability to execute large-scale productions (e.g., 800+ guests at the V&A East Museum opening, 600 guests at the DKMS Roundhouse gala). Named enterprise clients include Barclays, HG Capital, Deloitte, and A&O Shearman, and the company delivers internationally approximately 10–12 times per year in addition to its London core.

Name

Rocket Food

Legal name

Compass Contract Services (UK) Limited

Website

https://rocketfood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rocket Food is a London-based luxury catering company providing bespoke menu design, food preparation, and front-of-house service for corporate events, weddings, private parties, sports hospitality, and workplace dining at over 30 prestigious UK venues. It serves enterprise clients and high-net-worth individuals as a trading subsidiary of Compass Group PLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Event Catering

NAICS

Caterers (722320)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering (THAFAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering (THAHAKAF), VIP, Executive Dining & Hospitality Suites Catering (THAHAKAI), Luxury Hospitality & VIP Hosting (Tables, Bottle Service, Concierge Hosts) (HSACAMAH)

Keywords

• Luxury event catering
• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Sports hospitality catering
• Workplace dining services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Event Catering: Rocket Food generates revenue by providing bespoke catering and event services for private and corporate events. Services include canapés, multi-course dinners, cocktail receptions, wedding catering, and sports hospitality. All catering services are subject to separate written agreements agreed offline, with pricing quote-based. The company also offers workplace catering through its Table to Table concept, delivering fresh meals to corporate clients on a recurring basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rocket Food provides bespoke luxury catering for corporate events, weddings, private parties, multiday events, sports hospitality, and workplace dining across London's most prestigious venues. Services cover menu design, food preparation, front-of-house service, and event styling delivered on a quote-based, relationship-driven basis. The company also runs the Table to Table workplace dining concept, delivering fresh daily meals to corporate offices.

Product overview

Rocket Food is London's leading luxury caterer offering a portfolio of catering and hospitality services. The core offerings include events catering (corporate events, private parties, weddings, and multiday events), workplace catering (through the Table to Table concept), and sports hospitality. The company also runs Rocket Private Views — exclusive breakfast and evening events at prestigious cultural venues. Seasonal Food & Drink menus covering canapés, dinners, cocktails, and low-and-no options are central to the offering. Rocket Food operates as a catering service business rather than a software product company; there are no software products, applications, or platforms — only service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Table to Table: Rocket Food's workplace dining concept delivering fresh, high-quality meals daily at client sites.

Products and services

• Events Catering Bespoke luxury catering for corporate events, private parties, weddings, and multiday events. Rocket Food designs, prepares, and serves bespoke menus at prestigious venues across London and internationally for enterprise clients and high-net-worth individuals.
• Workplace Catering (Table to Table) Corporate workplace dining solutions delivering fresh, high-quality meals daily to corporate client offices through the Table to Table sub-brand, with on-site food service coordination and management.
• Sports Hospitality Luxury catering and hospitality services for sporting events and corporate entertainment around sports fixtures at prestigious sporting venues.
• Rocket Private Views Exclusive private viewing events hosted at cultural venues such as the V&A, Natural History Museum, and Royal Academy, featuring bespoke breakfast canapés and cocktails in unique settings before public opening hours, serving as both a marketing channel and client acquisition vehicle.
• Food & Drink Menus Seasonal culinary menus covering canapés, three-course dinners, breakfast selections, cocktail menus, and low-and-no alcohol options, developed with culinary collaborations and showcased across all event and catering offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered events for 800+ guests per evening at V&A East Museum opening
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food is a longstanding strategic partner to the V&A, having supported multiple museum openings including V&A East Storehouse, Young V&A, Gilbert Galleries, and the newly opened V&A East Museum. Rocket curated the food and drinks experience for the V&A East Museum's two-day launch welcoming 800+ guests per evening. The partnership is a flagship relationship demonstrating Rocket's capabilities at landmark cultural institutions.
• Natural History MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food is a catering partner at the Natural History Museum, delivering high-profile corporate dinners in iconic spaces including Hintze Hall and Dinosaurs Hall. Notable events include an 'Under the Sea' themed dinner for 300 guests and the DKMS Roundhouse fundraiser.
• Design MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food has been an accredited partner at the Design Museum since March 2017 and is consistently recognised as the museum's top-performing caterer. The partnership has delivered VIP private view parties for Ferrari: Under the Skin and Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier, as well as large-scale Christmas celebrations and private dinners.
• Royal Academy of ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food partners with the Royal Academy of Arts for its annual Summer Exhibition Preview Party and ongoing Private View series. The Rocket Private View concept delivers exclusive breakfast and evening events tied to major RA exhibitions, creating a recurring partnership format.
• Hampton Court PalacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food became an approved supplier at all four London Historic Royal Palaces, including Hampton Court Palace. This accreditation enables Rocket to deliver catering at one of the most iconic Tudor venues in the UK for events, weddings, and corporate occasions.
• Kensington PalacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of the Historic Royal Palaces accreditation, Rocket Food is an approved supplier at Kensington Palace, delivering catering for private events in one of London's most exclusive royal venues (limited to 100 private events per year).
• Event ConceptmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent Concept is a regular production partner for Rocket Food, providing event design, theming, and production services. Collaborated on the 'Under the Sea' Natural History Museum event, V&A East Museum opening, and Royal Academy Private Views. Event Concept brings immersive design and theming that complements Rocket's culinary and service delivery.
• Veevers CartermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFloral and event design partner featured in Rocket's 'Under the Sea' Natural History Museum event, providing coral-inspired installations and blue-green table arrangements that complemented Rocket's catering delivery.
• Drinks FusionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCocktail and beverage partner for multiple Rocket events including the 'Under the Sea' Natural History Museum dinner (The Forager's Margarita, Nordic Espresso Martini, Autumn Leaf Gimlet), V&A East Museum opening (East London Garden, green chilli colada), and One Marylebone bespoke collaboration (Woodland Old-Fashioned, Spiced Orange & Espresso Cocktail).
• Chelsea Physic GardenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Food partnered with Chelsea Physic Garden for Ben & Mathilde's elegant summer wedding. The venue, a historic botanical oasis in central London, is a key partner for garden weddings and outdoor celebrations.
• NyetimbermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnglish sparkling wine producer Nyetimber partnered with Rocket for the V&A East Museum opening event, serving sparkling wine alongside a curated cocktail list at the two-evening launch celebration.
• Cobble Lane CuredminorOthersEast London cured meat supplier providing bresaola for the V&A East Museum opening event menu, reflecting Rocket's commitment to local, quality sourcing.
• London Honey CominorOthersLondon-based honey producer supplying hot honey for spiced cauliflower canapé dishes at the V&A East Museum opening, supporting Rocket's locally-rooted menu approach.
• GusbournemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnglish sparkling wine producer Gusbourne partnered with Rocket for the Royal Academy Private Views event, with English sparkling wine served throughout the evening alongside bespoke cocktails by Drinks Fusion.
• BrindisaminorOthersSpanish specialty food supplier providing Señorío Ibérico de Bellota jamón for the Royal Academy Private Views event, hand-carved on-site by Rocket chefs.
• WasteKnotminorOthersSustainable British produce supplier providing 'wonky' vegetables and herbs for the Royal Academy Private Views food stalls, reflecting Rocket's sustainability commitments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management giant. Overlaps with Rocket in premium event/corporate catering via its luxury and event-services sub-brands but does not specialise in Rocket's boutique luxury-events niche.
• Compass Group: Parent company of Rocket Food and one of the world's largest contract catering and support services groups. Broad incumbent across food service, support services and hospitality at global scale — provides strategic context but does not compete in Rocket's luxury niche.

Direct peers

• Rhubarb Food Design: Luxury London event caterer with a strong design-led positioning across Royal Albert Hall, Ascot and premium cultural venues. Directly competes with Rocket in the high-end corporate and cultural-venue segment.
• Baxter Storey: UK workplace and contract caterer offering premium corporate dining, comparable to Rocket's Table to Table workplace dining concept. Highly relevant for the recurring-revenue side of Rocket's business.
• CH&CO: Premium UK contract caterer serving workplace, hospitality and events. Overlaps with Rocket's workplace catering (Table to Table) and corporate events segments, with similar high-end positioning.
• Moving Venue: London-based premium event caterer serving corporate events, weddings and private parties at iconic venues. Comparable bespoke, full-service catering model targeting similar HNW and enterprise clients.
• Zafferano Catering: London-based luxury event caterer delivering bespoke weddings, corporate galas and private parties at prestigious venues. Directly competes with Rocket Food for the same HNW and FTSE-100 client base at overlapping heritage and cultural venues.
• The Admirable Crichton: Long-established London luxury caterer providing bespoke event catering at heritage and cultural venues, with a comparable 25+ year heritage and similar corporate/HNW client focus to Rocket Food.
• Cloves Catering: London luxury caterer providing bespoke event catering for corporate, private and wedding clients. Comparable scale, service model and venue-centric delivery to Rocket Food.
• By Word of Mouth: Premium London caterer specialising in weddings, corporate events and private parties with a design-led ethos. Closely comparable in service mix, client profile and venue-based delivery model to Rocket Food.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rocket_food
• Xx.com/rocketfoodltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rocket Food