Hickory

What Hickory does

Hickory (Scotland) Limited is a privately held catering and events company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, with additional offices in Musselburgh (registered office) and Aberdeen. The company operates across four core service lines: Event Management, Food & Drink catering, Venue Management, and Event Staffing, supported by an in-house Event Logistics function that includes a dedicated warehouse and temperature-controlled fleet. Hickory serves corporate clients (conferences, product launches, awards ceremonies, Christmas parties), private event clients (birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings), and wedding clients across Scotland, with deepest concentration in Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Aberdeenshire. The company runs an owned flagship venue, Eskmills Venue in Musselburgh, which won Best Small Venue at the Scottish Event Awards 2015, and holds preferred or exclusive catering rights at 50+ partner venues including National Trust for Scotland properties (Culzean Castle, Mar Lodge, Haddo House, Fyvie Castle, Drum Castle, Crathes Castle) and private estates (Gordon Castle, Kinross House, Broomhall House). Sub-brands include Hickory Hogs (BBQ catering), Hickory Bars (pop-up bar service with Holyrood Distillery partnership), Hickory Weddings (dedicated wedding website), Hickory@Home (home-delivered catering), and Green Weddings (eco-conscious package aligned with Green Tourism Gold accreditation). The business is founder/independently owned, with no recorded funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional shareholders; Stephanie Stubbs serves as Managing Director.

The company generates revenue through quote-based per-event contracts priced on guest count, menu selection, and service requirements, functioning as a professional services business with additional recurring revenue from its owned venue and venue management contracts. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by event enquiry forms, phone contacts (Edinburgh 0131 273 5243, Aberdeen 01224 402 227), and venue referrals, supplemented by an event-driven marketing presence at major Scottish events (Royal Highland Show, European Championships Glasgow 2018, European Golf Championship at Gleneagles, Fyvie Live, Borders Book Festival, Braemar Gathering) via its Hickory Bars pop-up service. Marketing channels include content marketing, organic social, email newsletter (Hi! Hickory News), SEO, and a dedicated wedding website (hickoryweddings.co.uk). The company holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification, Living Wage employer accreditation, and Green Tourism Gold; it has no proprietary technology platform and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. In 2020, in response to pandemic-related restrictions, Hickory launched Hickory@Home home delivery and Virtual & Hybrid Events packages (including Breakfast-in-a-Bag, Scottish Picnic Lunch, After 5pm Experience, Invent a Cocktail Challenge, and Bake Off in a Box), expanded its digital presence, and appointed Gillan Kingstree as Head Chef. There is no evidence of subsequent funding rounds, acquisitions, or ownership changes.

Name

Hickory

Legal name

Hickory (Scotland) Limited

Website

https://hickoryfood.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hickory is a privately held Scottish catering and events company serving corporate, private, and wedding clients across Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Aberdeenshire. It operates core catering, event management, venue management, and logistics services, owns the Eskmills Venue flagship, and holds preferred caterer status at 50+ partner venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catering and Event Management Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310)

akta.pro primary industry

Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Event catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Wedding catering
• Venue management services
• Pop-up bar service

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Catering Services: Full-service catering for corporate events, private parties, and weddings. Services include menu design, food preparation, service staff, and event management. Revenue is generated through per-event contracts with pricing based on guest count, menu selection, and service requirements.
2. Venue Management: Hickory operates Eskmills Venue as their owned event space and manages multiple exclusive partner venues. This includes venue hire coordination, exclusive catering rights, and venue operations management.
3. Hickory Bars (Pop-up Bar Service): Mobile cocktail and beverage service for events, featuring artisan gins, craft beers, wines, and signature cocktails. The service operates at festivals, weddings, and corporate events across Scotland.
4. Hickory Hogs (BBQ Catering): Specialized spit-roast hog and BBQ catering service for events, featuring slow-cooked pork and BBQ menu options.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hickory is a Scottish catering and events company that designs, caters, and manages corporate events, weddings, and private parties across Scotland. It runs an in-house venue (Eskmills Venue) and offers sub-brands including Hickory Hogs BBQ, Hickory Bars pop-up bar service, and themed menus (e.g., green weddings, vegan menus, breakfast-in-a-bag home delivery). Services span food preparation, bar service, staffing, and full event logistics.

Product overview

Hickory is an award-winning catering and events company operating across Scotland, offering a modular service portfolio centered on five core offerings: Event Management, Food & Drink catering, Venue Management, Event Staffing, and Event Logistics. The company also operates Virtual & Hybrid Events as a distinct service line. Supporting these core services are sub-brands including Hickory Hogs (BBQ catering), Hickory Bars (pop-up cocktail bars), and Green Weddings (eco-conscious wedding packages). Hickory manages Eskmills Venue as its flagship owned property while maintaining an extensive portfolio of partner venues including castles, estates, and historic buildings across Scotland. The company provides specialized menu offerings such as Vegan Wedding Menu and seasonal Summer BBQ Menu, alongside interactive experiences including the Invent a Cocktail Challenge and Bake Off in a Box for hybrid events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eskmills Venue: Hickory's own event venue located in Musselburgh, East Lothian - the heart of the Hickory operation
• Hickory@Home
• Hickory Hogs
• Hickory Bars
• Hickory Weddings

Products and services

• Corporate Event Catering End-to-end catering for corporate functions including conferences, gala dinners, product launches, awards ceremonies, and team-building events, delivered across multiple Scottish venues in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and beyond.
• Wedding Catering Bespoke wedding catering covering canapés, wedding breakfasts, evening food, and bar service for couples across Scotland, including themed menus such as Green Weddings, Vegan Wedding Menus, and DIY Wedding BBQ.
• Private Party Catering Catering and hospitality for private celebrations including birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, and seasonal parties, available as catering-only or as a fully staffed package.
• Event Management End-to-end event management covering logistics, staffing, bar service, and on-the-day coordination for corporate events, weddings, and private parties.
• Eskmills Venue An in-house venue operated by Hickory for hosting corporate events, weddings, and private celebrations.
• Hickory Hogs BBQ Catering BBQ-focused catering sub-brand offering slow-cooked meats and BBQ menus for events, including DIY Wedding BBQ packages.
• Hickory Bars Pop-Up Bar Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Eskmills Venue won Best Small Venue in the Scottish Event Awards 2015
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• National Trust for Scotland (NTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHickory serves as a preferred catering partner to National Trust for Scotland venues, providing catering services at properties including Culzean Castle, Mar Lodge, Haddo House, Fyvie Castle, Leith Hall, House of Dun, Drum Castle, Crathes Castle, and others. This partnership grants Hickory preferred access to prestigious historic venues for events.
• Eskmills VenueflagshipOthersHickory operates Eskmills Venue as their owned flagship event space in Musselburgh, East Lothian. The 19th century venue has been stylishly renovated and serves as the heart of the Hickory operation, hosting weddings, parties, fashion shows, and awards ceremonies. The venue won Best Small Venue in Scottish Event Awards 2015.
• GH Event Catering LtdcoreOthersHickory is a brand operated by GH Event Catering Ltd, the parent company. The legal entity (Hickory Scotland Limited, SC430051) is registered under this parent structure.
• Various Scottish Estate and Castle OwnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHickory maintains exclusive catering partnerships with numerous Scottish estates and castles including Broomhall House, Gordon Castle, Kinross House, Newhall Estate, Oxenfoord Castle, Arniston House, and others. These partnerships provide exclusive or preferred catering rights at prestigious venues.
• Holyrood DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHickory uses Holyrood Dry Gin for cocktail creations and features the distillery's products at events. The distillery in Edinburgh represents a local spirits partner for Hickory Bars services.
• Mungoswells FarmminorOthersLocal East Lothian farm supplier featured in company blog posts as part of Hickory's commitment to local sourcing. Represents Hickory's philosophy of using locally sourced ingredients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Absolute Taste: UK event and party caterer delivering high-end food for corporate launches, weddings, and private celebrations. Directly comparable on customer mix (corporate events, weddings) and on the premium, bespoke-catering positioning that Hickory occupies in Scotland.
• Zafferano: London-based event and wedding caterer offering bespoke menus and full event services. Comparable on the wedding and private-event catering segment, the focus on seasonal ingredients, and the model of managing event logistics end-to-end for premium clients.
• CH&CO: UK premium hospitality and event catering group serving corporate, cultural, and venue clients. Comparable because it competes for the same high-end corporate event and venue-based catering mandates as Hickory, with a similar focus on quality and bespoke service.
• Food by Design: UK event caterer specializing in corporate hospitality, weddings, and large-scale public events. Comparable on target customer (corporate and private event clients), premium positioning, and capability to deliver at high-profile venues.
• Smart Hospitality: UK hospitality and event services group operating premium event catering, bars, and venue management services. Directly comparable on the multi-service (food + beverage + venue) model and on the premium corporate/private event customer segment.
• Baxter Storey: One of the UK's leading premium contract and event caterers, focused on workplace dining, hospitality, and special events for high-end clients. Directly comparable on customer profile (corporate clients, event catering) and on the model of combining owned venue-style relationships with bespoke event services.
• Searcys: UK heritage-venue and event caterer with a long-standing presence at St Pancras, the Barbican, and other prestigious venues. Directly comparable because it competes for the same premium corporate and private-event catering contracts at landmark venues that Hickory serves in Scotland.

Broad incumbents

• Compass Group: Global contract foodservice and support services giant with a wide UK portfolio including venue, event, and workplace catering. Indirectly competes for the same institutional and corporate event catering contracts Hickory pursues, but at vastly larger scale and breadth.
• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company with UK event and venue catering operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent that occasionally pitches for high-end event and corporate hospitality work, but with a much wider service portfolio than Hickory.

Emerging players

• Bruford's: Smaller UK caterer offering event and contract catering services to corporate and private clients. Comparable as a regional operator in the same premium-catering segment, though at a smaller scale and narrower geographic footprint than Hickory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HickoryFood
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hickory-159687800776230
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hickory-food
• Instagraminstagram.com/hickoryfood

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Hickory