Aberdeenshire-based catering business, Entier has secured £6.5m of funding from the Business Growth Fund for further international expansion.
The company, which is Scotland’s largest privately-owned catering business, plans to build on its existing work at 38 remote locations in 23 countries including Australia, Canada, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. Last year, the group picked up a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.
Chief executive Peter Bruce (pictured) founded Entier in 2008 after running similar services for catering giant Compass, with Aberdeen businessman Mike Reilly, former proprietor of the Olive Tree Restaurant in Aberdeen’s west end.
Revenues grew by 13% in the year to 30 September 2016 to £44.9m despite the industry downturn in the prices of oil and gas, with pre-tax profits rising by 72 per cent to £1.5m.
More than 4,500 people on oil and gas rigs and other remote installations around the world are served meals each day by Entier’s 760 staff, along with receiving hotel services such as cleaning, laundry, recreational & welfare services and with an emphasis on wellbeing and healthy eating. Major clients in the offshore sector include Apache, Awilco Drilling, EnQuest, Rowan Drilling and Technip.
Back onshore, Entier has developed the Fresh chain of cafés situated across Aberdeen as well as providing catering and hospitality services in 20 client offices including Stork, Helix and Archer.
The company also recently acquired Wilde Thyme, the Perthshire-based catering firm, which runs the restaurants at Glamis Castle in Angus and the Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, home to the Famous Grouse whisky brand.
In addition to its permanent premises, Wilde Thyme is the caterer of choice at various venues including the new Barn @ Bara Castle in Aberdeenshire & Carlowrie, Cluny and Drumlanrig castles. Wilde Thyme are the only hospitality company that can cover all of the National Trust Sites in Scotland.
