Dutch caterer Vermaat acquired for €1.5 billion by British group Compass

The British catering company Compass Group is acquiring the Dutch catering firm Vermaat Groep from British investor Bridgepoint. Compass is paying around 1.5 billion euros in the deal. Vermaat provides catering for companies and has restaurants in hospitals. The company also the La Place restaurants along with the supermarket chain Jumbo and is the owner of the store chain STACH.

Compass has said that Vermaat will remain an independent platform in Europe. The deal is subject to approval from regulators. Acting CEO Marcel Jagtman expects the acquisition to be completed within six to nine months.

The British company wants to use the takeover to expand its food offering in Europe. “Vermaat has a strong presence in certain segments. For example, in hospitals, an area where we are not as well represented,” Jagtman explained. He also praised Vermaat’s delivery services.

Vermaat began as a gourmet food shop in Utrecht and grew into the largest catering company in the Netherlands. The company is also active in France and Germany. According to Compass, Vermaat has 8,800 employees and over 700 locations. Bridgepoint completed their takeover of Vermaat in 2019.

Jagtman does not know whether all employees will be moving to his company. Compass will look into this after the takeover is completed. The company has the intention to take all employees to their company.

Compass has almost 3,500 workers at 1,700 organizations in the Netherlands. The company operates dining facilities in, for example, secondary schools and institutions of higher education, and also provides food in sports stadiums.