We’re incredibly proud to share that Bennett Hay has been named Business and Industry Caterer of the Year at the Foodservice Cateys 2026.
Presented by The Caterer, the Foodservice Cateys celebrate the individuals, teams and businesses making an outstanding contribution to the UK foodservice industry. To be recognised alongside some of the best operators in our sector is a huge moment for everyone at Bennett Hay – and leaving our 15th year, it feels particularly special.
The award comes at the end of a landmark 12 months for the business. Today, 316+ Bennett Hay colleagues support 33+ clients across 46 locations, serving more than 3,000 covers every day. During the past year, turnover grew by 27%, profit increased by 63%, nine new contracts were secured, ten existing partnerships were extended and every client was retained.
Those figures tell part of the story, but for us, this award is ultimately about the people behind them. From our chefs, baristas and front-of-house colleagues to our reception teams, managers and central support teams, it is the care, creativity and commitment shown every day that makes Bennett Hay what it is.
That was also reflected in the judges’ feedback. Ruth Lawton-Owen of the Admirable Crichton highlighted the combination of growth and client retention alongside our sustainability initiatives and evidence of training and development. John Nugent of Green & Fortune praised Bennett Hay as “An outstanding entry demonstrating great leadership with genuine innovation. A worthy winner.”
“Bennett Hay has really turned the corner and is firing on all cylinders. It has improved all categories of the business and is now a major force in the quality end of the market.”
Tim Jones, CH&Co
To have those areas recognised means a great deal, because they reflect many of the things we have been working hard to strengthen as we grow.
As an independent business, staying close to our clients and our teams has always been important to us. Growth brings new opportunities, but we want the principles behind Bennett Hay to remain the same: giving talented people room to make a difference, listening to our clients and continuing to challenge ourselves to make workplace hospitality better.
That approach can be seen throughout the business. Our chefs and managers have direct access to the suppliers, produce and products they need, with more than 40% of our food and beverage spend now going to small and artisan suppliers. Our own food-waste tracking tool has also helped us reduce food waste across the business by 20%, using purchasing, sales and occupancy data to help our teams respond more effectively to changing demand.
Earlier this year, Bennett Hay also became a Certified B Corporation™ following a two-year certification process. Reaching that milestone in the same year as our strongest financial performance to date is something we are particularly proud of, demonstrating that commercial success and doing business responsibly do not have to sit on opposite sides of the table.
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The past year has also been about making sure that growth is shared with the people making it possible. Fifteen per cent of profits were paid out to colleagues in bonuses across the business, while investment in training, development and progression remains an important part of how we want Bennett Hay to grow.
The evening itself gave us even more reason to celebrate, with Pedro Ferreira shortlisted for Regional Manager of the Year and our BCG team shortlisted for Front of House Team of the Year.
Three nominations across Bennett Hay were already something worth celebrating. Coming home as Business and Industry Caterer of the Year made it a night we won’t forget.
Awards may have one company name written on them, but this one represents hundreds of people. It belongs to everyone who arrives each day determined to make someone’s workplace experience a little better; everyone who tries something new, solves a problem, supports a colleague or goes the extra mile for a client.
It also belongs to the clients, suppliers and partners who put their trust in us and continue to be part of our journey.
Fifteen years after Bennett Hay began, we’re enormously proud of how far we’ve come – and even more excited about what comes next.