Access All AreasSmart Group has bought caterers Moving Venue which will see the venue and event caterer become part of the group.
The purchase will create a combined turnover for the catering division in excess of £12m per annum.
Moving Venue’s has thirty working in the Unique Venues of London, Museums and Historic Royal Palaces with prestigious and high profile events including the Man Booker Prize, the Barclaycard Mercury Prize and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Moving Venue clients will now use Smart Group brand extensions including Christmas Party venues, Corporate Hospitality and a creative event design service.
Moving Venue by Smart will keep its brand identity and remain as a separate trading division, with the product quality, team structure, offices and logistic services un-affected, and will continue to be overseen and directed for a minimum of three years by founder and managing director Richard Beggs.
Greg Lawson, CEO of Smart Group, said: “This is a sector of the market that we have had great ambition to enter; the acquisition is enormously complementary and gives us an opportunity to add our Smart by Angela Hartnett brand to the existing offering. Moving Venue is a market leader in this segment and was the natural partner. Our two businesses share many of the same values which can only help in our goal to become the UK’s most respected catering and creative events organisation.”
Richard Beggs, managing director of Moving Venue by Smart, added: “This is a really exciting time for us as we join forces with one of the brightest and most innovative companies in the events and hospitality sector. It will give us greater dining creativity, a presence in new markets such as corporate hospitality and equally will give Greg an established brand with the legacy of 30 years invaluable experience across the museum and heritage sector. This is definitely mutually beneficial and everyone is excited at the opportunities it brings.”
Moving Venue celebrated its 30th birthday in 2014 and joining Smart Group. The acquisition will see Smart Group employ a team of over 50 staff across its Manchester and London offices with a combined turnover on live events, catering, corporate hospitality and Christmas parties in excess of £20m.
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