What Caterkwik does

Caterkwik Ltd is a UK-based commercial catering equipment supplier, founded in 1994 and headquartered at The Lakeland Catering Centre in Ulverston, Cumbria. The company sells equipment across eight categories — refrigeration, cooking, warewashing, food preparation, beverage, fabrication and extraction, laundry, and kitchen essentials — via a feature-rich direct e-commerce storefront supplemented by phone-based assisted sales. Its product offering blends eight proprietary own-label brands (Cater-Cool, Cater-Ice, Cater-Wash, Cater-Mix, Cater-Prep, Cater-Fabs, Cater-Brew, Cater-Zap) with distribution of third-party OEMs including Rational, Lincat, Falcon, Electrolux Professional, Hobart, Hoshizaki, Foster Refrigeration, Brema, Parry, and Gram. Differentiators cited are a comprehensive one-stop-shop catalog, a price-match guarantee, expert advice, kitchen design and survey services, in-house delivery logistics, certified installation engineers, and lease-to-buy finance via iwocaPay (£150-£30,000 ticket range, 3-month interest-free or 12-month at 3.33% per month representative).

Operationally, Caterkwik runs a sales-led go-to-market combining online self-service with assisted quote building and account management. The proprietary "Build Your Own Quote" tool allows buyers to assemble shopping lists with unique reference numbers, while a stainless steel Table Configurator supports custom fabrication specification. Pricing is unit-based with prices quoted ex-VAT, next-day delivery available on orders by 4pm, and lease options starting at £0.05 per week. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales (new and reconditioned/graded stock), recurring lease/finance arrangements routed through iwocaPay, and professional services including installation and kitchen design. Customer segments are distributed across restaurants and hotels (primary), public sector institutions, mobile and event caterers, and retail food service, served exclusively within the United Kingdom. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investment, parent entity, or acquisition activity, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Caterkwik

Legal name

Caterkwik Ltd

Website

https://caterkwik.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Caterkwik is a UK-based commercial catering equipment supplier founded in 1994, headquartered in Ulverston, Cumbria, selling refrigeration, cooking, warewashing, food prep, beverage, laundry, and fabrication equipment through an e-commerce storefront, with installation, kitchen design, and finance services for hospitality and foodservice businesses across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Catering Equipment Supply

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

Keywords

• Commercial catering equipment
• Kitchen equipment supply
• Commercial refrigeration
• Warewashing equipment
• Foodservice equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Ulverston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Caterkwik generates revenue through direct sales of commercial catering equipment including refrigeration, cooking, food prep, warewashing, laundry, and beverage equipment. Products are sold at competitive internet prices with a price match promise. The company offers both new equipment and reconditioned/graded stock.
2. Finance/Lease Revenue: Caterkwik offers lease-to-buy financing options allowing customers to pay for equipment over time. They partner with iwocaPay for Buy Now Pay Later options (3 months interest-free or 12 months at 3.33% per month representative).
3. Installation and Service: The company provides certified installation and service for equipment, along with kitchen survey and design services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Caterkwik supplies commercial catering equipment to UK foodservice businesses through a comprehensive e-commerce platform, offering refrigeration, cooking, food preparation, warewashing, beverage, laundry, and stainless steel fabrication products from both proprietary own-label brands and third-party manufacturers. The company complements product sales with kitchen design, certified installation, after-sales service, lease-to-buy financing, and a price match promise.

Product overview

Caterkwik is a UK commercial catering equipment supplier operating as a comprehensive e-commerce platform offering an extensive portfolio of equipment across multiple categories. The business operates on a multi-brand model combining proprietary own-label brands (Cater-Cool, Cater-Ice, Cater-Wash, Cater-Mix, Cater-Prep, Cater-Fabs, Cater-Brew, Cater-Zap) alongside hundreds of third-party manufacturer brands. The product portfolio encompasses eight core categories: Refrigeration Equipment, Food Preparation Equipment, Cooking Equipment, Warewashing Equipment, Beverage Equipment, Fabrication & Extraction, Laundry Equipment, and Kitchen Essentials & Hotel Supplies. The own-brand products complement third-party brands (Rational, Lincat, Falcon, Electrolux Professional, Hobart, Hoshizaki, and many others) to provide complete kitchen solutions. Additional services include build-your-own-quote functionality, lease-to-buy financing options, kitchen survey and design services, and certified installation and service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cater-Cool: Commercial refrigeration products including bottle coolers and minibar fridges
• Cater-Ice
• Cater-Wash
• Cater-Mix
• Cater-Prep
• Cater-Brew
• Cater-Zap
• Cater-Fabs

Products and services

• Cater-Cool

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major brand, core and supporting.

• Rationalmajor brandOthersRational is a key brand supplier carried by Caterkwik, specializing in combination ovens and commercial cooking equipment. Prominently featured in product catalog.
• Lincatmajor brandOthersLincat is a leading UK manufacturer of commercial catering equipment carried by Caterkwik, providing ovens, hobs, and kitchen equipment.
• Falconmajor brandOthersFalcon is a prominent UK commercial catering equipment manufacturer whose products including oven ranges and fryers are sold through Caterkwik.
• Electrolux Professionalmajor brandOthersElectrolux Professional is a major brand supplier to Caterkwik, providing commercial cooking, refrigeration, and laundry equipment.
• Foster Refrigerationmajor brandOthersFoster Refrigeration is a British manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment, prominently featured in Caterkwik's product lineup.
• Hobartmajor brandOthersHobart is a premium manufacturer of commercial dishwashers, warewashing equipment, and food prep machinery sold through Caterkwik.
• Hoshizakimajor brandOthersHoshizaki is a leading manufacturer of commercial ice machines and refrigeration equipment carried by Caterkwik.
• BremacoreOthersBrema is a manufacturer of commercial ice machines whose products are sold through Caterkwik's catalog.
• ParrycoreOthersParry is a UK manufacturer of commercial catering equipment including stainless steel fabrication and cooking equipment.
• SamsungsupportingOthersSamsung commercial microwaves are available through Caterkwik's product catalog.
• Gram Commercial RefrigerationsupportingOthersGram commercial refrigeration products including the Snowflake range are sold through Caterkwik.
• Rationalmajor brandOthersRational is a key brand supplier carried by Caterkwik, specializing in combination ovens and commercial cooking equipment. Prominently featured in product catalog.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Brakes Group: UK foodservice wholesaler (part of Sysco) supplying restaurants, pubs, hotels and institutions. While primarily a foodservice distributor, it carries a commercial equipment range and competes for the same customer's total procurement wallet — a broader incumbent rather than equipment specialist.
• Rational UK: UK direct operation of the global combination oven manufacturer — one of Caterkwik's most important brand partners. Sells direct to end-customers in addition to via distributors like Caterkwik, making it both a key supplier and an emerging disintermediation threat.
• Electrolux Professional UK: Direct UK arm of the global commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer (cooking, refrigeration, laundry). Another key Caterkwik supplier with an established direct sales operation, representing both supply partnership and structural competitive risk.
• Hoshizaki UK: UK/Ireland direct operation of the Japanese commercial ice machine and refrigeration manufacturer. A core Caterkwik brand partner with growing direct e-commerce presence, providing both supply relationship and disintermediation exposure on ice and refrigeration categories.

Direct peers

• Lockhart Catering Equipment: UK-based multi-brand commercial catering equipment distributor serving restaurants, hotels, schools, and pubs. Highly comparable business model with multi-OEM catalog, e-commerce, and installation services, though with a heavier institutional and public-sector tilt.
• Alliance Online: UK e-commerce foodservice and catering equipment supplier, part of Bunzl's distribution network. Directly comparable multi-category equipment offering with strong digital buying experience and broad brand portfolio, competing for the same SME hospitality buyer.
• Nisbets: UK's leading commercial catering equipment one-stop-shop with multi-brand catalog, e-commerce platform, own-label brands (e.g., Vogue, Buffalo), and full installation service — the closest direct competitor to Caterkwik, but at substantially greater scale and with broader international reach.
• Commercial Catering Direct: Smaller UK-based online commercial catering equipment retailer carrying multi-brand equipment with price-led positioning. Directly comparable business model and customer targeting, though at smaller scale than Caterkwik.
• Catering Equipment Ltd: UK commercial catering equipment retailer offering refrigeration, cooking, warewashing and fabrication equipment online with installation service. Directly comparable smaller-scale e-commerce-led distributor serving overlapping restaurant and hotel customer base.

Emerging players

• First Choice Catering Spares: UK-based specialist in commercial catering spares and replacement parts, with adjacent equipment supply. Comparable customer base but narrower product focus, representing both a competitor on parts and a potential route for Caterkwik to expand into spares revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caterkwikltd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Caterkwik
• Facebookfacebook.com/cater.kwik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caterkwik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Caterkwik