What Vacherin does

Vacherin is a London-based specialist workplace catering and hospitality provider, operating as a subsidiary of CH & Co Catering Group (itself part of Compass Group). Founded c. 2003, the company runs 100+ sites across London, serving large corporate clients in legal, shipping, financial, and professional services through workplace restaurants, coffee bars, event catering, and managed venue operations (The Met Lounge, Ortus, Events @ No.6). Its subsidiary brand Entrée extends the offering into reception, concierge, and facilities support at client sites.

The core product portfolio is organised around five pillars: Workplace Dining, Expert Coffee Services, Hospitality and Events, Venue Management, and Entrée Reception Services. Underpinning these are certified training programmes (Vacherin Barista Academy, PLATE chef talent programme), managed in-house technology (AI-powered tills, Amazon Just Walk Out frictionless checkout, Trison heat-mapping and facial recognition, Lolly pre-order kiosks and loyalty apps), and a sustainability platform centred on its Planet Principles framework. Technology is integrated rather than proprietary, sourced from specialist partners and deployed on-site to optimise throughput, space utilisation, and customer experience.

Vacherin monetises through multi-year B2B contracts won via competitive tenders, with quote-based pricing tailored to each client's scope. Customer engagement is supported by a sales-led GTM focused on enterprise field sales, complemented by event-driven marketing (innovation forums, barista competitions, client tasting events). The company is accredited through industry awards (15 HRC 2025 awards, consecutive Ace Ready Steady Cook wins, Acorn Awards) and embeds social value through partnerships with Luminary Bakery, Well Grounded, Sproud, and artisan coffee roasters. Boutique and competitive advantage is concentrated in talent density (former World Barista Championship Head Judge, Roux Scholar consultants) and long client tenure averaging 9+ years.

Name

Vacherin

Legal name

Vacherin Limited

Website

https://vacherin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Vacherin is a London-based specialist workplace catering and hospitality provider serving large corporate clients across legal, financial, professional services, and shipping sectors through 100+ on-site restaurants, coffee bars, event catering, managed venues, and reception services. It operates as a subsidiary of CH & Co Catering Group (Compass Group).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Catering / Workplace Hospitality Services

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (72231), Office Administrative Services (5611)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Contract Foodservice Management (Outsourced Catering) (THAFAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coworking Cafes / Work Cafes (THAFADAJ), Event Hospitality & VIP Lounge Staff (HSACAEAH)

Keywords

• Workplace catering
• Corporate hospitality services
• Specialty coffee programs
• Contract catering London
• Event venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Workplace Catering: Contract catering services for corporate clients providing breakfast, lunch, coffee bars, and hospitality services in workplace settings
2. Corporate Events & Fine Dining: High-end event catering including client entertainment, Christmas parties, and celebrations from breakfast to fine dining
3. Reception & Concierge Services: Entrée brand providing professional reception, meeting room management, switchboard, corporate help desk, concierge, and facilities support services
4. Venue Management: Managed venue operations including The Met Lounge, Ortus, and Events @ No.6 - providing conference and event spaces

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vacherin is a London specialist contract caterer providing workplace dining (breakfast, lunch, coffee bars), corporate event catering, and venue management for enterprise clients. The company operates five core service pillars: Workplace Dining, Expert Coffee Services, Hospitality & Events, Venue Management (The Met Lounge, Ortus, Events @ No.6), and Entrée reception/concierge services. Services are delivered on-site at client workplaces under multi-year tendered contracts.

Product overview

Vacherin is a London-based workplace catering and hospitality company operating as part of CH&CO Catering Group. The company offers a unified portfolio of food and hospitality services organized around five core pillars: Workplace Dining (nutritious meals and food concepts), Expert Coffee Services (barista program with training academy), Hospitality and Events (full-service catering), Venue Management (event spaces), and Entrée Reception Services. Supporting offerings include the Barista Academy (certificated training), Barista Assembles (monthly community events), Sparkle (creative/innovation), Club Vacherin (membership), and PLATE (chef talent program). The company integrates technology solutions including AI-powered points of sale, frictionless checkout, and pre-order kiosks at client sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workplace Dining Catering service providing balanced, flavour-packed meals for workplace restaurants, including nutritious food options, the latest food trends, and restaurant-like experiences delivered at client offices.
• Expert Coffee Services Specialty coffee program featuring in-house baristas, coffee competitions (Crush the Rush, Barista of the Year), Vacherin Barista Academy training, and partnerships with artisan roasters. Led by Head of Coffee Marc-Pierre Dietrich.
• Hospitality and Events Full-service catering for events ranging from breakfast and working lunches to fine dining and celebrations, with seasonal menus, creative presentations, and professional service.
• Entrée (Reception Services) Professional reception and support services including reception desk management, meeting room management, switchboard, corporate help desk, concierge services, lobby enlivenment, floor ambassadors, and facilities support.
• Venue Management Management of event venues including The Met Lounge (Fitzrovia), Ortus (Denmark Hill), and Events @ No.6 (Aldgate). Covers meetings, conferences, seminars, and special occasions.
• Vacherin Barista Academy Certificated barista training program offering SCA Foundation, Intermediate, and Professional modules in Barista Skills and Brewing Skills, providing career pathways from Trainee to Barista Coach.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of client entertainment handled in-house (up from 15%) at major corporate client
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• SproudsecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2025Only contract caterer in UK to offer Sproud Barista plant-based milk made from yellow split peas. Free-from common allergens, high protein, certified low sugar. Partnership includes activations across 16 Vacherin sites.
• Good & PropersecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2025Premium tea company founded in 2012 by Emilie Holmes. Focus on quality, transparency and sustainability. Hosted tea education sessions for Vacherin baristas including ceremonial matcha training.
• Specialty Coffee SocietysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Upcoming collaboration to develop bespoke training and accreditation programme for Vacherin's barista development.
• La MarzoccocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Premium espresso machine manufacturer providing equipment and venue for barista training and competitions. Host venue for Vacherin Live 2026, Crush the Rush competitions, and Latte Art Slam Down events.
• The Roasting PartysecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Coffee roaster partner featured at London Coffee Festival and Vacherin Live 2026. Their espresso used in Mazagran (sparkling espresso lemonade) creation.
• Luminary BakerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 202410-year partnership with social enterprise supporting women through training, employment and community programmes. Vacherin offers work placements, fundraising initiatives (£11,000 raised at 10-year celebration event), and helps expand Luminary's retail business. Currently celebrating milestone with Three Peaks Challenge raising £31,743.
• Doug McMaster / SilocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Partnership with zero-waste restaurant leader Doug McMaster introducing 'Silo Stages' - sustainability initiative where 21 Vacherin chefs receive training at Silo and bring back food waste reduction actions ('Rule of Doug') to implement across 100+ sites.
• Sabrina GiddacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Culinary Consultant partnership focused on menu innovation and talent development. Sabrina brings Modern South Asian Kitchen concept and expertise in empowering women in food and championing racial equity. Also instrumental in P.L.A.T.E chef talent programme with Westminster Kingsway College.
• Well GroundedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Social enterprise partnership supporting people with barriers to employment into careers in coffee and hospitality. 12 traineeships delivered, with £134,000 donated through Community Blend coffee (£2 per kilo sold). Part of CH&Co's £1.1 billion Social Value achievement.
• The Felix ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Food donation partnership where Vacherin team volunteers harvest surplus fruit (plums, pears, apples) at organic farm in Marden, Kent for distribution to charities and schools across London.
• CH & Co Catering Group LimitedcoreOthersVacherin Limited became part of CH & Co Catering Group Limited as of 28th February 2020. CH&Co operates 700+ sites with 6000+ employees across UK and Ireland in business & industry, healthcare, education, and public catering sectors.
• Surrey Docks FarmsecondaryOthersLocal London farm partnership where Vacherin sources meat delivered directly, helping connect city life with farming and food production. Farm provides educational opportunities about farming and circular food production.
• Marc-Pierre DietrichcoreOthersInternational coffee expert appointed as first Head of Coffee. Former Board Director at SCAE, World Barista Championship Head Judge, and creator of competition judge training programme across 23 European countries.
• Compass GroupcoreOthersCH&Co is part of Compass Group, contributing to their £1.1 billion Social Value total in 2024 as validated by Social Value Portal using TOM System™.
• Redemption RoasterssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSpecialty coffee roaster partner. Provided exclusive coffee crawl tour as prize for Crush the Rush competition runner-up team.
• Caravela CoffeesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCoffee partner hosting Baristas Assemble cupping sessions with Vacherin baristas. Introduced coffees from Tanzania, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala.
• Waste KnotsecondaryOthersSurplus produce supplier providing ingredients for Vacherin chef competitions and sustainability initiatives, supporting food waste reduction.
• Ridgeview VineyardsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAward-winning English sparkling wine producer in Ditchling, Surrey. Operations Director Tom Rule led team visit to learn about winemaking and sustainable practices. Ridgeview is certified B Corporation and founding member of Sustainable Wines GB.
• WildfarmedsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationRegenerative wheat farmers providing flour that is high quality and good for the earth. Featured at Autumn Innovation Forum.
• The Met LoungecoreOthersRe-imagined Fitzrovia venue managed by Vacherin - puts people, wellness, and sustainability first with bright modern interiors and breathtaking London views. Features retractable roof.
• Ortus EventscoreOthersHigh-tech, eco-friendly venue offering 22 rooms across 7 levels managed by Vacherin for meetings, conferences, seminars. Located 2 minutes from Denmark Hill station.
• Events @ No.6coreOthersThe Royal College of Pathologists' HQ at 6 Alie Street managed by Vacherin. State-of-the-art venue with 200-seat conference room and open-plan pavilion with central London views.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Benugo: Benugo operates workplace cafés, contract catering, and event hospitality with a strong London footprint, including sites at museums, galleries, and corporate workplaces. Its specialist London position and café-led workplace proposition make it a closely comparable direct peer to Vacherin.
• Baxter Storey: Baxter Storey is the UK's leading specialist contract caterer focused on workplace dining, hospitality, and events for premium corporate clients. Operated under WSH, it competes head-to-head with Vacherin for the same enterprise catering contracts in London and across the UK, with very similar client mix (law firms, financial services, professional services).
• Elior UK: Elior UK is a major contract caterer operating across workplace dining, healthcare, education, and public sectors with significant London presence. It competes with Vacherin for corporate workplace contracts at scale, though with a broader, less specialist positioning.
• Lexington Catering: Lexington Catering is a UK contract caterer specializing in workplace dining and hospitality for corporate clients, with a strong London presence. Its service model, target customer base (corporates, professional services), and venue-management offering directly overlap with Vacherin's core proposition.
• The Good Eating Company: The Good Eating Company is a specialist London-focused workplace catering company serving corporate clients with premium food, coffee, and hospitality services. Its positioning as a high-end, London-centric workplace caterer closely mirrors Vacherin's specialist proposition.
• Restaurant Associates: Restaurant Associates is a Compass Group sister brand also operating in premium workplace dining and hospitality across London and major UK cities. It targets the same enterprise client base as Vacherin with a comparable fine-dining-in-the-workplace proposition, making it a direct intra-group competitor for many of the same accounts.
• Thomas Franks: Thomas Franks is a UK contract caterer specializing in independent school, workplace, and event catering with a London and South East focus. Its emphasis on fresh, seasonal food and event/hospitality offerings overlaps with several of Vacherin's service lines and target segments.

Others

• Gather & Gather: Gather & Gather is a CH&Co Group sister brand focused on workplace dining and hospitality for corporate clients across the UK and Ireland. As an intra-group brand, it competes for shared parent resources and may compete indirectly for client accounts, but operates under the same ownership umbrella.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo UK: Sodexo is a global contract services giant with substantial UK workplace catering, facilities management, and food services operations. While it overlaps with Vacherin's corporate workplace dining, its broader portfolio and much larger scale place it as a broad incumbent competitor rather than a direct specialist peer.
• Compass Group UK & Ireland: Compass Group is the ultimate parent company of Vacherin (via CH&Co) and the world's largest contract foodservice provider. Its UK operation competes broadly in workplace catering through multiple brands including Restaurant Associates and Gather & Gather, providing strategic context for Vacherin's positioning within its parent's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vacherin
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• Facebookfacebook.com/vacherinlondon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Vacherin