Orchard Catering
Orchard Catering is a family-run UK catering business providing bespoke wedding and event catering across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, offering customized menus, a unique wood-fired pizza car, and tasting sessions to couples and event organizers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersTewkesbury, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Orchard Catering does
Orchard Catering is a family-run catering business headquartered in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, founded in 2005 and operating for over 20 years in the UK wedding and events market. The company provides full-service bespoke catering for weddings, corporate events, private celebrations, and funeral receptions across Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, and surrounding regions. Core offerings include customized wedding breakfasts, canapés, evening food, and drinks service, supported by add-on modules such as paid tasting days (£50 per head), the proprietary Mario Pizza Car (a vintage Mini converted into a wood-fired pizza oven for on-site pizza preparation in 90 seconds), and hire equipment including tableware, linen, and glassware.
The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model with one-time project contracts, requiring a £500 non-refundable deposit to secure dates, a 50% invoice at six months prior, and final balance due 14 days before each event. The pricing model requires a minimum of 50 adults for wedding breakfast plus 30 additional evening guests. Distribution is delivered on-site at customer-chosen venues, with the company functioning as the named or preferred caterer at six regional wedding venues (The Barn at Upcote, Great Tythe Barn, Birtsmorton Court, Milton End Farm, Naas Court Farm, Mickleton Hills Farm) and traveling to other venues for additional fees.
Orchard Catering is privately held by owner Robert Knight and business partner Mo Lawley, supported by a small team including Charlotte McShane (Office and Event's Manager) and Ellie Warren (Wedding and Events Coordinator). Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range. The company has no external funding, no subsidiaries, no acquisitions, and operates as an independent lifestyle-oriented business focused on personal service and culinary quality rather than scalable technology-led growth.
Orchard Catering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orchard Catering
- Legal name
- Orchard Catering
- Website
- https://orchardcatering.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Orchard Catering is a family-run UK catering business providing bespoke wedding and event catering across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, offering customized menus, a unique wood-fired pizza car, and tasting sessions to couples and event organizers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Orchard Catering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wedding & Event Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wedding & Reception Catering (HSACAGAD), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Orchard Catering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tewkesbury
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Orchard Catering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Wedding Catering Services: Full-service wedding catering including wedding breakfast, canapés, evening food, drinks service. Menu is bespoke and tailored to each couple's preferences. Revenue generated through per-event contracts with deposits and milestone payments.
- Event Catering Services: Catering for various events including birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate functions, and funeral receptions. Menu options include traditional feasts, BBQ, paella, and wood-fired pizzas.
- Tasting Day Sessions: Pre-wedding tasting sessions offered at £50 per head, credited toward final balance if couple books. Provides couples opportunity to sample menu options before making final selections.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Wedding catering minimum package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-refundable deposit to secure date |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | 50% invoice at 6 months prior |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Final balance due 14 days before event |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tasting day session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hire charge deposit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Orchard Catering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orchard Catering provides full-service, bespoke catering for weddings and private events across Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond. Offerings include the wedding breakfast, canapés, evening food, drinks service, menu planning with tasting sessions, tableware and linen hire, and a signature "Mario Pizza Car" (a vintage Mini fitted with a wood-fired pizza oven) for live on-site pizza service. Pricing is quote-based per event with milestone payments and a non-refundable £500 deposit to secure the date.
Product overview
Orchard Catering is a family-run catering business offering bespoke wedding and event catering services across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. The core offering consists of wedding catering services and event catering services, which are supported by several add-on modules: the Mario Pizza Car (a vintage Mini converted into a wood-fired pizza oven), menu planning with tasting days, drinks service, and hire equipment for tableware and linens. The company operates from provided menus as starting points, customizing dishes based on client preferences, and serves venues where they are named caterers as well as traveling to client-chosen venues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wedding Catering Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple 5-star reviews from wedding couples praising food quality, service, and flexibility
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Orchard Catering
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Orchard Catering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Orchard Catering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Barn at UpcotecoreNamed caterer and preferred catering partner. Orchard has been working with the venue from the beginning, consistently providing wonderful food with great service. Venue testimonial notes the team is friendly, helpful, and organized throughout the wedding day.
- Great Tythe BarncoreNamed caterer at the venue. Orchard is organized throughout the wedding day with efficient service and high quality food. Willingly works alongside the venue team with couples.
- Birtsmorton CourtcoreNamed caterer and preferred catering partner. Testimonial describes Orchard team as incredibly reliable, genuinely lovely with couples, and consistently amazing food. Team feels like friends rather than colleagues.
- Milton End FarmcoreNamed caterer. Venue testimonial describes Orchard's personal, friendly approach as super accommodating. Both are family-run businesses with compatible values.
- Naas Court FarmcorePreferred catering partner. Testimonial notes Orchard's wealth of experience and professionalism guaranteeing perfect service of delicious, fresh food.
- Mickleton Hills FarmminorWedding venue partner listed on the website. Enquiries can be made through Orchard's contact form.
- Cotswold PicturesminorListed under photographers section on partners page. Wedding photography partner.
- Big Eye PhotographyminorListed under photographers section on partners page. Wedding photography partner.
- Clem StevensminorListed under photographers section on partners page. Wedding photography partner.
- Pedge PhotographyminorListed under photographers section on partners page. Cotswolds wedding photography partner.
- The Flower Hut TetburyminorListed under florists section on partners page. Wedding florist partner.
- Aqua FloristminorListed under florists section on partners page. Wedding florist partner.
- Cotswold BloomsminorListed under florists section on partners page. Wedding florist partner.
- Petals and Pampas FloralsminorListed under florists section on partners page. Wedding florist partner.
- Sugar Bowl BakesminorListed under wedding cake section on partners page. Wedding cake supplier.
- Cake Day DreamsminorListed under wedding cake section on partners page. Wedding cake supplier.
- Hannah Culley CakesminorListed under wedding cake section on partners page. Wedding cake supplier.
- Toria Sefton CakesminorListed under wedding cake section on partners page. Wedding cake supplier.
- The Bar BrosminorListed under bar hire section on partners page. Mobile bar hire service for events.
- Signature Mobile BarminorListed under bar hire section on partners page. Mobile bar hire service for events.
- Iconic Bar HireminorListed under bar hire section on partners page. Mobile bar hire service for events.
- Cotswold Ice Cream CominorListed under ice cream section on partners page. Local ice cream supplier for events.
- Fluffy PuffinminorListed under ice cream section on partners page. Local ice cream supplier for events.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Orchard Catering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Caterman: Cotswolds-based wedding and event caterer focused on bespoke menus and venue partnerships. Closely comparable geographically and in service model to Orchard Catering.
- Indi-Catering: Independent UK wedding and event caterer offering tailored menus and full-service event support. Comparable in bespoke, family-run positioning and target market.
- Bovingdons Catering: UK family-run wedding and event caterer offering bespoke menus and full-service catering across regional UK markets. Comparable in scale, bespoke positioning, and wedding-venue partnership model to Orchard Catering.
- Absolute Event & Wedding Catering: UK bespoke wedding and event caterer with regional venue partnerships. Closely comparable in bespoke menu design, family-run ethos and target customer.
- So Bake Love: Cotswolds wedding and event caterer with venue partnerships across regional barn and farm venues. Directly comparable in geography and product offering.
Broad incumbents
- Baxter Storey: Major UK contract caterer serving workplaces, venues and events across multiple segments. Comparable in food-service delivery but operates at much greater scale and broader scope than Orchard.
- CH&CO: UK hospitality and catering group providing event catering and venue catering partnerships. Comparable in event catering capability but at significantly larger scale.
- Compass Group: Global contract foodservice and support services company with UK event and venue catering operations. Operates at vastly greater scale than Orchard and competes for venue contracts across the UK.
- Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company with UK wedding and event catering exposure. Comparable in food-service capability but competes from a corporate, scaled position.
Regional players
- Olive Tree Catering: UK wedding and event caterer operating outside the Cotswolds but with comparable bespoke, venue-partnered service model. Comparable in offering though serving a different regional market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Orchard Catering social profiles
Digital presenceOrchard Catering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orchard Catering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Orchard Catering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orchard Catering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Orchard Catering
What does Orchard Catering do?
Orchard Catering provides full-service, bespoke catering for weddings and private events across Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond. Offerings include the wedding breakfast, canapés, evening food, drinks service, menu planning with tasting sessions, tableware and linen hire, and a signature "Mario Pizza Car" (a vintage Mini fitted with a wood-fired pizza oven) for live on-site pizza service. Pricing is quote-based per event with milestone payments and a non-refundable £500 deposit to secure the date.
Is Orchard Catering a public or private company?
Orchard Catering is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Orchard Catering founded?
Orchard Catering was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Orchard Catering based?
Orchard Catering is headquartered in Tewkesbury, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Orchard Catering make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wedding Catering Services are the primary driver. The others are event Catering Services and tasting Day Sessions.
Who are Orchard Catering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Caterman, Indi-Catering, Bovingdons Catering, Absolute Event & Wedding Catering and So Bake Love. Broad incumbents are Baxter Storey, CH&CO, Compass Group and Sodexo. Olive Tree Catering is listed as a regional player.
Does Orchard Catering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orchard Catering.
What industry is Orchard Catering in?
Orchard Catering's product category is Wedding & Event Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAA, Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise), with a secondary code of HSACAGAD, Wedding & Reception Catering. Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 5810.