Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions

What Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions does

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions (HCE) is a UK-based bespoke manufacturer and installer of commercial catering counters, bars, and stainless steel kitchen equipment, founded in 1987 by Brian Holmes in Full Sutton, near York. The company designs, fabricates, and installs custom servery counters and stainless steel kitchen units for national restaurant chains (Pizza Express, Nando's, Wagamama, KFC, Byron Burger), hotel groups (Mercure, Novotel, Millennium, Premier Inn), grocery retailers (Waitrose), cafes, corporate caterers, and commercial kitchen operators. In-house manufacturing capabilities span stainless steel fabrication (grades 304 and 430), PVC extrusion, curved slat counter construction, and assembly across materials including quartz, solid surface, timber, glass, and laminate, with 4-8 week lead times from design approval.

Holmes operates as a division of Space Catering (UK) Ltd, which was acquired by Nisbets plc in April 2016 and subsequently by Bunzl plc in April 2024, one of the largest transactions in the UK catering industry. Revenue is generated through quote-based bespoke project contracts (one-time licence plus installation/fit-out services) with pricing varying by specifications, materials, and scope. The company runs a sales-led, enterprise-focused go-to-market model working directly with clients, interior designers, and architects, accepting design briefs ranging from hand-drawn sketches through CAD files and 3D visuals. Customer segments are organised vertically across fast/casual dining chains, corporate and staff catering, hotels and bars, cafes and coffee shops, retail, and professional kitchens, with nationwide UK service from the Yorkshire manufacturing base. Holmes holds Ceda, ISO 45001, Safe Contractor, CHAS, and Constructionline accreditations and supports a small apprenticeship program alongside its experienced long-tenured workforce.

Name

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions

Legal name

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions Ltd

Website

https://hce.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke catering counters, bars, and stainless steel kitchen equipment for UK national restaurant chains, hotel groups, retailers, cafes, and commercial kitchen operators from its Yorkshire manufacturing base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Catering Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Catering Equipment, Rentals & Setup (Non-decor) (HSACAGAL)

Keywords

• Commercial catering equipment
• Bespoke counter manufacturing
• Stainless steel fabrication
• Commercial bar fabrication
• Hospitality kitchen equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Full Sutton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Counter Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing and fabrication of catering servery counters, bars, and stainless steel kitchen equipment. Products are made to order based on client specifications and design requirements.
2. Installation and Interior Fit-Out Services: Complete installation and interior fit-out services for commercial kitchens, cafes, bars, and food service environments. Includes managing delivery through to commissioning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions is a UK-based bespoke manufacturer of catering counters, bars, and stainless steel commercial kitchen and bar equipment. The company designs, fabricates, and installs front-of-house counters, back bars, front bars, under bars, refrigerated display units, and pick-up/hot-hold stations primarily for hospitality chains, hotels, retail, and corporate catering operations.

Product overview

Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions offers a comprehensive portfolio of bespoke catering equipment and food service solutions, operating as a single unified product-and-service offering rather than a modular software platform. The core offering consists of custom-manufactured catering counters and servery solutions complemented by stainless steel commercial kitchen fabrication services. Product modules include Front Counters (hot/cold/ambient displays), Back Bars, Front Bars, Under Bars, and Custom Servery Counters. Material options span Quartz, Stainless Steel, Solid Surface, Timber, Laminate, and Glass. Services encompass Installation & Interior Fit-Out. The company serves diverse sectors including cafes, fast/casual dining chains, corporate catering, hotels, bars, retail, and professional kitchens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Catering Counters Custom-designed front-of-house catering and servery counters manufactured to brand specifications for hospitality chains, hotels, and retail. Each counter is engineered using the company's PVC extrusion and curved slat counter technologies with stainless steel fabrication. Customers include Pizza Express, Nando's, Wagamama, KFC, and Byron Burger.
• Bespoke Bar Equipment (Front Bars, Back Bars, Under Bars) Custom front bars, back bars, and under bars manufactured in stainless steel for hotel groups, conference venues, and premium bar operators. Named hotel clients include Mercure, Novotel, Millennium, and Premier Inn.
• Stainless Steel Commercial Kitchen Fabrication Stainless steel fabrication services using 300 and 400 series stainless steel grades to produce commercial kitchen equipment and back-of-house fit-outs for hospitality, retail, and corporate catering environments.
• Refrigerated Display Units and Hot-Hold Solutions Refrigerated display units, pick-up stations, and hot-hold units integrated into custom counter solutions for hospitality chain operators. Used to support take-away, click-and-collect, and in-store food service workflows.
• Installation and Interior Fit-Out Services End-to-end installation and interior fit-out services for hospitality chains, hotels, and corporate caterers, covering delivery, site installation, and fit-out of bespoke counters, bars, and commercial kitchen equipment in coordination with interior designers and contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufacturing lead time of 4-8 weeks from full design approval, depending on size, complexity, and materials specified.

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brian Holmes (Founder)historicalOthers · 1 January 1987Holmes was established in 1987 by Brian Holmes as Holmes Group, supplying the catering and hospitality industry. The business has maintained its customer focus and can-do attitude through multiple ownership changes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nisbets: Nisbets is the UK's largest catering equipment supplier and Holmes' sister company under Bunzl plc. Both serve UK hospitality with commercial catering equipment; Holmes provides bespoke fabrication while Nisbets leads on distribution, making them operationally complementary and directly comparable as UK foodservice equipment businesses.
• Imperial Commercial Catering Equipment: Imperial is a UK manufacturer and supplier of commercial catering equipment including stainless steel fabrication, cooking, and servery solutions. Direct comparable to Holmes in terms of UK manufacturing, stainless steel fabrication, and hospitality customer base.
• Lincat Group: Lincat is a UK manufacturer of commercial catering equipment including cooking, holding, and servery equipment, with similar customer overlap in hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Comparable to Holmes as a UK-based fabricator of stainless steel foodservice equipment serving the same hospitality end markets.
• Parry Catering Equipment: Parry is a UK manufacturer of stainless steel commercial catering equipment, including servery counters, stands, and bespoke fabrications. Comparable to Holmes as a UK-based stainless steel fabricator serving hospitality and foodservice customers.
• Falcon Foodservice Equipment: Falcon manufactures commercial cooking and servery equipment in the UK and supplies hotels, restaurants, and contract caterers. Direct comparable to Holmes in terms of stainless steel fabrication, UK manufacturing footprint, and hospitality customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Ali Group: Ali Group is one of the largest global foodservice equipment groups, with multiple brands manufacturing cooking, refrigeration, and servery equipment. Comparable to Holmes in the servery and stainless steel fabrication segments, but as a broad incumbent with global scale rather than a UK bespoke specialist.
• Electrolux Professional: Electrolux Professional is a major global manufacturer of commercial kitchen and laundry equipment, supplying hotels, restaurants, and chain operators worldwide. Comparable to Holmes as a commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer serving the same end customers, but with a much broader portfolio and standardized catalog approach.
• Welbilt (Ali Group brand): Welbilt (now part of Ali Group) manufactures commercial cooking and foodservice equipment globally, including servery and counter solutions for chain operators. Comparable to Holmes in counter and servery segments serving the same chain customers, but as a broad incumbent with a standardized product portfolio.
• Middleby Corporation: Middleby is a global leader in commercial foodservice equipment, including cooking, refrigeration, and counter/servery lines serving the same chain and hospitality customers as Holmes. Operates as a broad incumbent with far larger scale and a catalog model, whereas Holmes focuses on bespoke UK fabrication.

Regional players

• Williams Refrigeration: Williams Refrigeration is a UK-based manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment used in hospitality and foodservice. While Holmes' portfolio overlaps on refrigerated display units, Williams is refrigeration-specialist and serves the same UK hospitality end customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

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 Holmes Catering Equipment Solutions