What Mellors Catering Services does

Mellors Catering Services is a privately held, family-owned UK contract catering company headquartered in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, operating since 1995 (with brand heritage dating to a Southport bakery established in 1840). The company provides on-site food services to 250+ primary schools, 100+ secondary schools, further education colleges, and business & industry clients across 360-380 sites in the North of England and Midlands, serving approximately 130,000 meals daily with a workforce of 1,905-2,000+ staff. Its core offer combines nutritionally compliant school meals with bespoke menus developed by an in-house Food Development team, allergen care plans, and innovative concepts such as Plant-Powered Kitchen, Taste of Asia, Crafted by Mellors premium range, and the Mellors Tuk Truck mobile street food unit. All ingredients are sourced from 25 named local suppliers within the operating region.

The business generates revenue through multi-year B2B institutional contracts with schools, local authorities, academy trusts, and corporate clients, with meals funded via a mix of paid meals, government Free School Meal subsidies, and institutional budgets. Pricing is negotiated individually with each client and is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, executed through a Business Development Director (Mike Ham) and a network of Area Managers delivering localized service. The company also owns two hospitality assets (Lancashire Manor Hotel acquired 2010, Barton Manor Hotel acquired 2019), operates an internal staff communications platform (Grapevine, launched 2023), and holds ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. Recent leadership additions include a new Finance Director (Julie Leigh, 2024) and the Tuk Truck product launch (2025), both consistent with ongoing scaling.

Name

Mellors Catering Services

Legal name

Mellors Catering Services

Website

https://mellorscatering.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1840

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Mellors Catering Services is a family-owned UK contract caterer serving 130,000 meals daily across 360-380 primary schools, secondary schools, further education colleges and business sites in the North of England and Midlands, with all ingredients sourced from 25 local regional suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Catering Services

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (72231), Food Service Contractors (722310), Caterers (722320)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Service & Dining Operations Management (Managed Cafeterias) (EDAEALAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Catering & Office Food Programs (HSACAGAC)

Keywords

• Contract catering services
• School meals catering
• Education catering
• Workplace catering
• Bespoke food services

Headquarters

HQ city

Skelmersdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Catering Services: Mellors operates as a contract caterer providing food services to schools, further education institutions, and business & industry clients under long-term contractual agreements. Revenue is generated through contracted meal fees negotiated with local authorities, schools, and corporate clients. The company operates on-site kitchens at client locations across 360-380 sites in the North of England and Midlands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mellors Catering Services operates as a B2B contract caterer providing freshly prepared meals at on-site kitchens in schools, further education institutions, and business and industry sites across the North of England and Midlands. The company delivers 130,000 meals daily across 360-380 sites, supported by a nutritionist-led Food Development Team and a network of 25 regional suppliers. Service offerings are structured around primary school, secondary school, further education, and corporate workplace catering, supplemented by event hospitality and a mobile street food unit (Mellors Tuk Truck).

Product overview

Mellors Catering Services is a family-owned contract catering business operating since 1840, offering a unified catering service portfolio focused on educational institutions (primary schools, secondary schools, further education) and business/industry clients. The core offering centres on freshly prepared school meals served across 360+ locations, supplemented by innovative food concepts including the Plant-Powered Kitchen, A Taste of Asia, Crafted by Mellors premium range, and the Mellors Tuk Truck mobile street food experience. Additional services include hospitality/event catering, Theme Days programming, and the Grapevine internal communications platform. All offerings emphasise locally-sourced fresh ingredients, nutritional quality, and dietary inclusivity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crafted by Mellors: Premium range of signature dishes celebrating Mellors' rich history, passion for people and commitment to exceptional food quality.
• Mellors Tuk Truck
• Plant-Powered Kitchen by Mellors
• Taste of Asia

Products and services

• Primary School Meals Nutritious school meals prepared from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients for primary school children (Key Stages 1 and 2). Includes diverse seasonal menus on a 3-weekly rotation, free salad bars, monthly theme days, allergen and individual care plans, and engagement activities to broaden children's culinary horizons.
• Secondary School Meals Catering for secondary school students (Key Stages 3, 4 and 5) providing diverse, trend-led menus, digital screens in dining rooms for enhanced engagement, grab-and-go options, theme days, and hospitality for school events. Designed to meet higher expectations of older students by delivering high street-quality food.
• Further Education Catering Catering services for 6th form colleges and further education institutions offering high street-quality food including rice boxes, artisan sandwiches, made-to-order salads, and seasonal on-trend menu items. Aimed at older students who compare school food to retail offerings.
• Business & Industry Catering On-site workplace catering for corporate and industrial clients, providing breakfast choices, lunch options and homemade snacks for employees. Aimed at enhancing workplace wellbeing, productivity, and staff retention through quality food offerings.
• Hospitality & Event Catering Tailored catering for corporate and school events including parent evenings, open days, meetings, conferences and private functions. Menus include canapés, hot and cold buffet selections, breakfast items, and custom options accommodating vegan, gluten-free and halal dietary requirements.
• Mellors Tuk Truck Mobile street food unit offering global flavours inspired by destinations such as Thailand, Italy, China and Mexico. Operates at schools during term time as an immersive educational and culinary experience, and is available for private hire at corporate gatherings, birthdays and community events. Capacity of approximately 50 guests per half hour.
• Plant-Powered Kitchen Plant-based food concept introducing children to nutritious plant-based menu options and hands-on experiences promoting sustainable and healthy eating habits in school settings.
• A Taste of Asia Food concept exploring Asian flavours from India to Korea, helping children discover diverse flavours and cultural horizons through curated menu offerings and themed dining experiences.
• Crafted by Mellors Premium range of signature dishes celebrating Mellors' culinary heritage, drawing on original recipe books from 1869 and combined with contemporary foodie trends to deliver elevated menu items.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students who regularly eat breakfast have been shown to achieve up to 17.5% higher scores in Maths tests compared to those who skip breakfast
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zoe's Place Baby HospicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Mellors has partnered with Zoe's Place Baby Hospice for over 10 years (since approximately 2014), raising over £40,000 through regular fundraising initiatives. Zoe's Place provides palliative and end-of-life care to babies and infants aged birth to 5 years with life-limiting conditions. Mellors' charitable partnership aligns with their mission of nourishing futures, as both organisations share a commitment to supporting children.
• Prescott FarmcoreOthersLocal farm supplier featured on Mellors' Fresh is Best supplier showcase page. Prescott Farm supplies fresh produce to Mellors as part of the 100% locally sourced supply chain in the North of England and Midlands.
• Little Town DairycoreOthersLocal dairy supplier featured on Mellors' Fresh is Best supplier showcase page. Little Town Dairy supplies dairy products as part of Mellors' commitment to 25 local suppliers across the North of England and Midlands.
• Gore Hall FarmcoreOthersLocal farm supplier featured on Mellors' Fresh is Best supplier showcase page. Gore Hall Farm supplies fresh produce as part of the local supply chain.
• Bryans SaladsminorOthersFeatured in Mellors' Supplier Spotlight series (May 2026) highlighting Bryans Salads as a local supplier partner.
• Local Bee Experts (for Little Bee Keepers initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMellors launched the Little Bee Keepers initiative with support from local bee experts who provide knowledge and guidance on beekeeping in schools. The initiative was developed by Mellors employees Sarah, Nikki, and Emma and brought to life with expert support.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Compass Group UK & Ireland:

Broad incumbents

• Elior UK: Major UK contract caterer operating across education, B&I, healthcare, and defence with a much larger national footprint than Mellors. Overlaps directly in education and B&I but also serves adjacent institutional segments.
• ISS Food Services (UK): Major integrated facilities services provider in the UK with a food services division serving workplaces, education, and public sector. Competes with Mellors especially on bundled FM contracts in B&I and public-sector catering.
• Sodexo UK: One of the largest global contract caterers and facilities management providers, with a substantial UK education and B&I presence. Competes with Mellors on large multi-site tenders and benefits from integrated FM bundling.

Direct peers

• CH&CO: UK-based independent contract caterer serving workplaces, education, and hospitality venues with a regional and bespoke service model very similar to Mellors, including nutrition-led menus and event catering. Comparable in scale and target segments before its acquisition by Elior.
• Wilson Vale: Independent, family-style UK contract caterer focused on workplaces, schools, and further education across the Midlands and North of England, with a comparable emphasis on local sourcing, bespoke menus, and regional service density.
• Lexington Catering: UK independent contract caterer serving workplaces and corporate clients with a quality-led, chef-driven offer, operating in similar B&I and education verticals as Mellors. Now part of the CH&CO/Elior group but historically a direct peer.
• Caterlink: Education-focused UK contract caterer serving primary, secondary, and independent schools with a comparable model centred on school meal standards, allergen management, and nutrition expertise.
• Baxter Storey: Premium UK contract caterer serving workplaces, education, and hospitality with a chef-led, quality-focused model. Comparable in B&I and education segments, though positioned at a higher price point than Mellors.

Emerging players

• Thomas Franks: Independent UK contract caterer focused on independent schools and education with a chef-led, premium-positioned offer. Smaller than Mellors but operates in an overlapping education segment with similar fresh, locally-sourced values.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mellorscateringservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mellors-catering-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/mellors_catering_services
• Xx.com/mellorscatering

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Mellors Catering Services