Compass folds Restaurant Associates Venues into Company of Cooks

Compass Group UK & Ireland has merged Restaurant Associates Venues into Company of Cooks, collapsing two sister brands into one specialist operator as Company of Cooks marks its 30th anniversary.

The two venue hospitality caterers have operated as siblings since Compass Group UK & Ireland acquired CH&Co in 2024. That deal put both names under the same corporate roof. Now the roof covers one brand only.

The combined business will deliver food, drink and experience services to clients in cultural, heritage and leisure destinations. Neither company disclosed financial terms, contract values or headcount figures for the consolidation. The absence of numbers matters. Brand mergers of this kind usually carry cost synergies, and neither side said whether roles will overlap or be cut.

Which venues sit in the portfolio?

The merged brand's client list spans some of London's most visible cultural institutions. Its portfolio includes the Royal Opera House and RHS Wisley, where the caterer runs a range of food and beverage services from cafes and restaurants through to large-scale events.

One recent win illustrates the direction of travel. Last month Company of Cooks was named the new food, drink and events partner for the Apothecaries' Hall, the oldest surviving Livery Hall in the City of London and home to the Society of Apothecaries. That contract predates the merger announcement and will now sit under the single brand.

What did leadership say?

Dirk Talsma, managing director of Company of Cooks, framed the merger as continuity rather than rupture. He said: "I am incredibly excited about this next chapter. Company of Cooks' 30-year heritage is built on integrity and the belief that brilliant hospitality starts with brilliant people. Bringing our teams together is a natural evolution, strengthening our operational expertise, culinary innovation and event sales capability, alongside greater investment in our people and client locations."

Talsma set an explicit ambition for the combined entity. "Our ambition is to become the UK's most admired hospitality partner for cultural destinations, heritage event venues and visitor attractions," he said. "We are structured to give clients, guests and venues outstanding support while investing meaningfully in our teams. That means great training, genuine career opportunities and a supportive culture where people feel valued. When we care for our people, they bring creativity, confidence and craft to every guest experience."

That is a promise, not a metric. No revenue targets, retention rates or investment figures accompanied the statement. Admiration is hard to measure; the market will judge by contract wins and renewals.

How does this fit Compass's wider structure?

Matt Thomas, CEO of Workplace + Leisure at Compass Group UK & Ireland, positioned the merged brand within a broader portfolio strategy. He said: "We have long admired Company of Cooks and what it stands for. As our market evolves, we need to keep developing our people and challenging our thinking, so we continue to earn the trust of the clients and customers we serve today and those we will welcome tomorrow."

Thomas signaled that Compass intends to keep distinct identities inside the sector rather than absorb everything into one master brand. "Company of Cooks has an important place within the Workplace + Leisure sector, alongside distinctive, thoughtful brands that can share expertise while staying true to their own identities," he said. "My job is to give this leadership team the resources, investment and talented people they need to uphold the highest standards and deliver on our promises. That is what matters: backing our people to do what they do best, and making sure our clients and customers see the difference."

Why consolidate now?

The timing gives the clearest clue. Company of Cooks turns 30 this year, and the anniversary provides a natural moment to retire a duplicate brand rather than run two parallel identities under one owner. Compass acquired CH&Co in 2024 and has now spent the period since integrating its pieces.

For clients, the practical change is a single point of contact and a unified operational structure across cultural, heritage and leisure sites. For competitors such as independent heritage-sector caterers, the change means a larger, better-resourced rival bidding on the same contracts.

What remains unspoken is the fate of the Restaurant Associates Venues name itself and any operational overlap between the merged teams. Compass has promised investment in people and locations. The proof will come in the next round of contract announcements, where the single brand must show it can win work that the two separate brands once chased apart.