What CATERING EQUIPMENT LTD does

Catering Equipment Ltd is a UK-based, privately held family business founded in 1998 by Anthony and Sue Prestage to address a perceived gap between low-quality Far East imports and expensive European catering equipment. The company sells professional catering, food transport, hygiene, and foodservice products through its clickonstore.net e-commerce platform and a Birmingham showroom, supported by telephone ordering and a physical head office in Polesworth, Tamworth. Its catalog of approximately 1,100+ SKUs spans stainless steel and polycarbonate Gastronorm containers, KangaBox-branded insulated food transport boxes, portable handwash sinks, eutectic freezer plates for cold-chain use, gas cookers, electrical catering appliances, and stainless steel furniture and bar equipment.

The company operates as a multi-brand distributor and private-label manufacturer. It holds authorized distributor status for Dometic/Waeco, Kangabox, Parry, Burco Commercial, Panasonic, and Samsung Professional Equipment, while also producing its own CEL-brand and KangaBox product lines. Pricing is unit-based per SKU (range approximately £1.50 to £1,031.67 ex-VAT), with payment via PayPal and major card networks and standard e-commerce checkout adding VAT. Customer segments include commercial catering operators, transportation and mobile catering, camping and outdoor recreation, and retail food display, with named enterprise reference customers including NHS, Tesco, John Lewis, JD Wetherspoon, and Whitbread.

Leadership transitioned in the 2020s to second-generation Managing Director Mark Prestage while co-founder Anthony Prestage remains active in Sales and Marketing. The company remains family-controlled with no external investors, operates exclusively in the UK domestic market, and does not disclose financial figures. Revenue derives entirely from one-time retail product sales (plus low-margin distribution) through the e-commerce storefront and showroom channel.

Name

CATERING EQUIPMENT LTD

Legal name

Catering Equipment Ltd

Website

https://clickonstore.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catering Equipment Ltd is a UK family-owned distributor and e-commerce retailer of professional catering equipment, serving commercial catering, transport, camping, and retail buyers via clickonstore.net and a Birmingham showroom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Catering Equipment

NAICS

Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Cooking Equipment & Parts Wholesale (AFAIALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB), Food Preparation Equipment & Smallwares Wholesale (AFAIALAK), Bar & Beverage Service Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAG)

Keywords

• Commercial catering equipment
• Gastronorm food containers
• Insulated food transport boxes
• Portable handwash sinks
• Professional kitchen supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Tamworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of catering equipment, foodservice supplies, and equipment through their clickonstore.net platform and showroom

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Catering Equipment Ltd sells professional catering and foodservice equipment directly to commercial customers via its clickonstore.net e-commerce platform and a Birmingham showroom. Its offering spans Gastronorm food containers (stainless steel, polycarbonate, polypropylene), KangaBox insulated food transport boxes, portable handwash sinks, Dometic portable refrigeration, gas cookers, bain marie equipment, stainless steel furniture, and bar/restaurant supplies. The company manufactures its own CEL-brand products and distributes major third-party brands including Dometic/Waeco, Kangabox, Parry, Panasonic, Burco and Samsung Professional Equipment.

Product overview

Catering Equipment Ltd operates clickonstore.net as a business-to-business e-commerce platform supplying professional catering, transport, camping, and retail industries. Their product portfolio centers on Gastronorm-standard food containers (stainless steel, polycarbonate, and polypropylene with self-sealing lids), KangaBox branded insulated transport boxes for hot/cold food holding, and portable equipment including hand wash sinks, gas cookers, and Dometic/Waeco portable cooling units. The company distributes major brands including Dometic/Waeco, Parry, Panasonic, Burco Commercial, and Samsung Professional Equipment while also manufacturing their own CEL-brand products. Their approximately 1,100+ SKUs span food containers, transport equipment, electrical catering appliances, stainless steel furniture, sinks, and bar/restaurant supplies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stainless Steel Gastronorm Containers and Lids 304 electropolished stainless steel Gastronorm containers and lids in sizes 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/9, 2/1, 2/3, 2/4 and depths from 20mm to 200mm, suitable for professional catering ovens and food preparation.
• Polycarbonate Gastronorm Containers Clear and black polycarbonate Gastronorm containers for temperatures between -40C and +99C, used for freezing, storing and serving food.
• Polypropylene Self-Sealing Container Sets GN 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 and 1/9 polypropylene containers with self-sealing hermetic lids using patented air valve technology, operating from -40C to +80C for food storage and transport.
• KangaBox Food Transport Boxes Ultra-lightweight insulated food transport boxes in Expert, Professional, Comfort, Easy, Trip and Tower variants, designed to hold Gastronorm containers at hot or cold temperatures.
• Eutectic Freezer Plates High-performance eutectic plates in GN 1/1, 1/2 and 1/4 sizes, filled with non-toxic biodegradable liquid for cold-chain supply in food, pharmaceutical and medical applications.
• Portable Hand Wash Sinks Electric portable handwash sinks and units with mains-electricity-heated hot water, designed for catering, healthcare and retail environments needing mobile hygiene.
• Dometic/Waeco Portable Fridges and Coolers Dometic TropiCool TCX35 and Coolfreeze CFX series portable refrigeration units capable of cooling, heating or freezing, designed for mobile and outdoor catering and transport use.
• Bright Spark Portable Gas Cookers Portable butane gas cookers including the BS102 model producing 2kW of heat, CE certified, for camping, outdoor cooking and BBQ applications.
• Chafing Dishes and Gel Fuel Chafing dishes with ISO9000-approved Sterno chafing gel fuel in 200g tins, holding food above 63 degrees C for over 2 hours.
• Bain Marie / Wet Well Equipment Gastronorm 1/1 stainless steel bain marie and wet well containers, 160mm deep, for holding and displaying hot food in catering settings.
• Insulated Drinks Containers Insulated jugs, airpots, pump pots and vacuum jugs with double-wall insulation, including stainless steel options, for keeping beverages hot or cold.
• Stainless Steel Furniture and Fittings Stainless steel cupboards, shelving, trollies, outdoor furniture, bar and service counters, and food prep surfaces for commercial catering environments.
• Scrap Rings and Waste Chutes Stainless steel scrap rings and rubbish chutes for through-counter mounting in 151mm and 227mm diameters, for hygienic food waste disposal.
• Round Pots and Bain Marie Pots Stainless steel round pots with notched covers for ladles, compatible with Lincat, Parry and other bain marie brands, for sauces, soups and hot food service.
• Kitchen Utensils and Bar Equipment Cutlery holders, magnetic knife racks, condiment dispensers, salt and pepper sets, squeeze bottles and other kitchen and bar accessories for professional catering.
• Vogue Stainless Steel Cookware Professional stainless steel saucepans (0.9L to 5L) and casserole pans (7.5L to 13L) with induction-compatible stainless steel sole and heavy-duty 18/10 construction.

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dometic/WaecocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading distributor of the Dometic range including portable refrigeration, cooling boxes, and climate control equipment for catering, transport, and outdoor use.
• KangaboxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgents and distributors for Kangabox insulated food transport boxes including Expert, Comfort, Professional, Tower, and Trip product lines in various Gastronorm sizes.
• ParrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Parry professional catering equipment including cooking equipment, stainless steel fabrication, and foodservice appliances.
• PanasonicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Panasonic professional equipment including microwave ovens and kitchen appliances.
• Burco CommercialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Burco Commercial catering equipment including water boilers, urns, and commercial cooking appliances.
• Samsung Professional EquipmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Samsung professional kitchen equipment and commercial appliances.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Burco: UK manufacturer of commercial catering appliances including water boilers, urns, and cookers. Sells both direct and via distributors such as CEL, making it an overlapping product portfolio competitor as well as a supplier.
• Parry: UK manufacturer of stainless steel catering equipment, cooking appliances, and fabrications for commercial kitchens. Both a CEL distribution partner and a comparable supplier in the same categories (cooking equipment, stainless steel fabrication).
• Lincat: UK manufacturer of commercial catering equipment (cooking, holding, food display) with a deep own-brand catalog and dealer network. Overlaps with CEL on bain marie, cooking, and food display categories but competes as a brand/supplier upstream of CEL's distribution role.
• Dometic: Global manufacturer of mobile refrigeration, cooling, and climate-control solutions for catering, transport, and outdoor use. CEL is a leading UK distributor of Dometic, and Dometic's own direct channels represent an upstream competitive threat in portable cooling.

Direct peers

• Lockhart Catering Equipment: UK wholesale distributor of professional catering equipment and consumables serving foodservice operators, hospitality chains, and contract caterers. Comparable business model of multi-brand distribution plus own-brand products aimed at commercial kitchens.
• Caterkwik: UK e-commerce specialist in catering equipment, supplies, and commercial kitchen products. Directly competes with CEL on Gastronorm containers, cooking equipment, and stainless steel furniture sold through an online storefront.
• Nisbets: Largest UK-based direct supplier of catering equipment and supplies to the hospitality industry, operating both e-commerce and catalogue channels. Directly comparable to CEL in product breadth (Gastronorm, refrigeration, cooking equipment) and target customer (restaurants, caterers, healthcare).
• FFD Catering Equipment: UK distributor of commercial catering and foodservice equipment, including cooking, refrigeration, and stainless steel fabrication. Directly comparable mid-market competitor serving restaurants, hotels, and mobile caterers.
• Maxima Kitchen Equipment: European (Netherlands-rooted) supplier of commercial kitchen and foodservice equipment distributed across the UK market. Comparable in product categories (cooking, refrigeration, stainless steel furniture) with a similar B2B/B2C hybrid distribution model.

Emerging players

• Sous Chef: UK specialist retailer of professional cookware, kitchen tools, and chef-grade equipment to enthusiasts and small foodservice buyers. Adjacent competitor in some overlapping SKUs (cookware, utensils) but skewed toward prosumer/hobbyist rather than commercial catering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catering-equipment-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 CATERING EQUIPMENT LTD