Catering Equipment Centre

What Catering Equipment Centre does

Catering Equipment Centre (legally Roland Allen & Co Ltd.) is a UK-based distributor and reseller of commercial catering equipment, tableware, glassware, and kitchenware, operating from a single headquarters, showroom, and warehouse facility in Luton, Bedfordshire. Founded in 1958 and family-run, the company serves hospitality businesses (restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, hotels), educational institutions, care homes, and takeaway operators across England. Its product range spans light to heavy-duty commercial kitchen equipment, cookware, utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware, and barware, sourced from major manufacturers including Rational, Churchill, Porcelite, and Genware, with bespoke stainless steel fabrication also offered.

The business operates a multi-channel model combining a transactional e-commerce store (cateringequipmentcentre.co.uk), an in-person showroom, and a phone-based sales team. Pricing is predominantly one-time retail, with price points ranging from single-digit consumables to higher-value equipment, plus a first-order online discount and free delivery above set thresholds. Revenue is supplemented by professional services — bespoke kitchen design, installation, commissioning, repair, and service contracts delivered by qualified engineers — and by an equipment leasing channel run in partnership with Kennet Equipment Leasing. The company is privately held, employs 1-10 people, and relies on long-tenured industry knowledge rather than proprietary technology. There is no disclosed AI, software, or platform layer; the competitive position rests on brand longevity, OEM relationships, show-room economics, and end-to-end service delivery.

Name

Catering Equipment Centre

Legal name

Roland Allen & Co Ltd.

Website

https://cateringequipmentcentre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catering Equipment Centre (Roland Allen & Co Ltd.) is a family-run UK distributor, founded 1958, selling commercial catering equipment, kitchenware, tableware, and glassware via e-commerce, showroom, and phone sales to hospitality, education, and care-home operators, with design, installation, and leasing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Catering Equipment

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Commercial catering equipment
• Commercial kitchen supplies
• Commercial tableware
• Kitchen design services
• Catering utensils

Headquarters

HQ city

Luton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of commercial catering equipment, kitchenware, utensils, cookware, tableware, glassware, and cutlery to hospitality businesses.
2. Equipment Leasing: Partnership with Kennet Equipment Leasing to provide financing options for catering equipment purchases, with Roland Allen facilitating the leasing arrangement.
3. Professional Services: Kitchen design and installation, repair and service contracts, commissioning, and after-sales service provided by fully qualified engineers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catering Equipment Centre is a UK-based distributor and reseller of commercial catering equipment, kitchenware, tableware, glassware, and cutlery for the hospitality industry. The company also provides professional kitchen design, installation, commissioning, repair and service-contract work, and equipment leasing through a third-party financing partner. Customers include restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, hotels, schools, colleges, and care homes purchasing through the company's e-commerce website, Luton showroom, and telephone sales team.

Product overview

Catering Equipment Centre operates an e-commerce platform and physical showroom offering a comprehensive range of commercial catering equipment and tableware for the hospitality industry. The product portfolio consists of kitchen equipment and utensils (including cookware, gastronorm pans, baking trays, non-stick frypans, knives, and preparation tools), kitchenware and utensils (chopping boards, tongs, spatulas, whisks, thermometers, portioners), tableware (crockery from Porcelite, Churchill, Simply Tableware, Genware, Seasons by Porcelite), glassware, cutlery, and table presentation items. The company also provides complementary services including commercial kitchen design and installation, repair and service contracts, and equipment leasing through Kennet Equipment Leasing. Products are sold to restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, care homes, takeaways, and schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Cookware Range of commercial cookware including stainless steel gastronorm pans (EN631 standard, 201 stainless steel with electropolish finish), professional aluminium baking trays and roasting dishes (up to 2mm thick), non-stick Teflon Platinum Plus frypans, and Rational Combi Oven accessories. Targeted at commercial kitchens in restaurants, pubs, schools, and care homes.
• Kitchen Utensils and Preparation Tools Commercial catering utensils and preparation equipment including colour-coded chopping boards (red for raw food, blue for raw fish, yellow for cooked meats, green for salads and fruits, brown for vegetables, white for dairy), spatulas, ladles, spoons, tongs, whisks, thermometers, weighing scales, graters, sieves and strainers, jugs and scoops, and Bonzer Lightgrip and Unigrip portioners. Developed with professional chefs and targeted at commercial kitchen operators.
• Crockery and Commercial Tableware Strong, elegant, durable commercial crockery including plates, bowls, dishes, platters, cups and beverage items, in traditional white and trending colours. Stocked as authorized reseller of multiple brand lines: Seasons by Porcelite (hand-decorated vitrified porcelain in eight complementary colours), Churchill Stonecast (hand-finished ceramics in original, semi-matte Raw, and minimal Accents designs), Simply Tableware (value vitrified white tableware), Porcelite Whiteware, Royal Genware Whiteware, Porland Enigma, and Bonna commercial tableware. Targeted at hospitality operators seeking oven-to-table service capability.
• Commercial Glassware Elegant and durable commercial glassware for hospitality venues, including wine glasses, champagne flutes, gin and cocktail glasses, hiball tumblers, beer glasses, old fashioned glassware, and dessert glassware. Supplied from brand partners including Genware.
• Commercial Cutlery Commercial cutlery in 18/0 and 18/10 stainless steel, supplied from brand partners including Elia, Grunwerg, Olympia, and Genware, for use in commercial hospitality settings.
• Barware Bar and cocktail equipment for commercial establishments, complementing the glassware and tableware offering.
• Table Presentation Products Table presentation products for front-of-house service, including serving platters, ramekins, dip pots, serving cups, salt and pepper mills, condiment bottles, and cast iron sizzlers. Targeted at hospitality venues seeking enhanced table presentation.
• Kitchen Design and Installation Bespoke commercial kitchen design, installation, and commissioning services delivered from concept to conclusion. Includes stainless steel fabrication to specification. Targeted at hospitality operators, schools, and care homes opening or refurbishing kitchen facilities, with demonstrated project delivery for operators such as Anglian Country Inns (Hermitage Road Bar and Restaurant) and Vanstone Park Garden Centre.
• Repair and Service Contracts Repair and ongoing service contract offerings for commercial catering equipment, delivered by fully qualified in-house engineers to provide after-sales support following equipment installation.
• Equipment Leasing Commercial catering equipment leasing provided in association with Kennet Equipment Leasing, allowing customers to spread equipment costs via fixed monthly payments that do not change throughout the lease term. Tax-deductible payment structure and seamless service from commissioning through delivery and installation. Targeted at commercial catering operators seeking financing for equipment purchases.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ChurchillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised reseller of Churchill ceramics including Stonecast, Isla, and other ranges of commercial tableware.
• PorceliteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised reseller of Porcelite tableware including Seasons by Porcelite, Porcelite Whiteware, and Aura by Porcelite ranges.
• GenwareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised reseller of Genware glassware and cutlery products for commercial hospitality use.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Nisbets: Nisbets is the UK's largest caterer equipment and supplies retailer, offering a broad catalog of kitchen equipment, tableware, and consumables to hospitality businesses. Highly comparable to Catering Equipment Centre in product mix and customer base, but materially larger in scale and geographic reach.
• Brakes Group: Brakes is a major UK foodservice wholesaler supplying caterers, restaurants, and hospitality with food, equipment, and services. While primarily food-focused, its equipment and services offering overlaps with Catering Equipment Centre's customer base and broader caterer-procurement workflow.
• Lincat: Lincat is a UK manufacturer of commercial catering equipment (cooking, holding, food display) sold through distributor networks. Comparable as a brand potentially stocked by Catering Equipment Centre and a competitor in the same end-market, though Lincat is upstream as a manufacturer.

Direct peers

• Lockhart Catering Equipment: Lockhart is a UK-based direct competitor supplying professional kitchen equipment, tableware, and consumables to the catering industry with a multi-channel sales approach. Closest direct comparable to Catering Equipment Centre in target customers, product range, and value-added services.
• Victor Catering Supplies: Victor Catering Supplies is a UK-based independent catering equipment supplier with similar product breadth and customer profile to Catering Equipment Centre. Comparable as a small independent distributor serving pubs, restaurants, and hospitality operators.
• Alliance Online: Alliance Online is a UK-based online retailer of catering equipment, light commercial supplies, and janitorial products. Direct competitor in the e-commerce distribution of catering equipment to UK hospitality operators, with similar small-equipment and consumables assortment.
• Caterparts: Caterparts is a UK-based supplier of commercial catering equipment, spares, and parts serving independent restaurants and hospitality operators. Comparable to Catering Equipment Centre in target customer and product categories, with a focus on equipment replacement and consumables.
• Chef's Range UK: Chef's Range is a UK-based catering equipment supplier offering commercial kitchen equipment, tableware, and consumables to hospitality businesses. Direct competitor in product range, customer base, and multi-channel distribution model.

Regional players

• Commercial Catering Spares: Commercial Catering Spares is a UK-based specialist supplier of catering equipment parts and spares. Comparable as a regional player in the after-sales/service parts segment that complements Catering Equipment Centre's own repair and service contracts.

Emerging players

• Tableware International: Tableware International is a UK niche supplier of commercial tableware, glassware, and barware to hospitality businesses. Comparable overlap with Catering Equipment Centre's Churchill, Porcelite, and Genware tableware range, with a narrower focus on front-of-house supplies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RolandAllenLTD
• Facebookfacebook.com/racateringservicing
• Instagraminstagram.com/ra_cateringequipmentcentre

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 Catering Equipment Centre