News

14th February 2007  

FOSTERS SPREAD THE WORD AND THEIR WINGS

Fosters Event Catering is the South West’s largest privately owned catering company and over the last twelve months they have continued to spread their company wings whilst delivering a myriad of fabulous events all over the South West and beyond.

Fosters cater at over twenty venues and has a well established and much sought after outside catering unit, which operates in whatever location their clients require. However, the last twelve months has seen their turnover double and their reputation spread. Fosters has won contracts right across the region. These include new and prestigious venues such as Winchester Guildhall, Oxford Town Hall, The Bath & West Showground and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Fosters are particularly delighted that they gained a three year contract to cater for all events on Brunel’s famous ship the ss Great Britain, something for which they are justly proud. The ship has recently had a massive refurbishment and having catered on board this amazing ship for the past seven years the company are thrilled to be able to continue. They even have Victorian menus to compliment this stunning venue!

Fosters have built their well deserved reputation by offering simply good food and thoughtful service! Company Vice Chairman, Suzanne Roberts, herself Managing Director for fourteen years prides herself in being very hands-on and prior to her time with Fosters owned award winning hotels and restaurants across the country.

Suzanne handed the reins of MD over to James Davidson in 2005 and James continues to use the Fosters philosophy. He and his team have a distinctive style and considerable experience in managing restaurants, corporate events and private parties, as well as giving excellent service wherever they are.

Founded by the Clarke family in 1959, its founder and Chairman, Giles Clarke and his cousin Rupert King, son of Lord King, have seen the company grow and flourish whilst those that work within still feel they work for a family company.

Educated at Rugby School and Oriel College, Oxford, Giles began his career with CFSB as an investment banker. He founded Majestic Wine in 1981 and as Executive Chairman built it into a national chain of warehouses which he sold in 1989 for £15m.
Since then he has been heavily involved with a number of companies including Pet City which he co-founded in 1990 and Safestore Plc in 1998.

Fosters has always had a great tradition for serving excellent food. The first ‘outside contract’ was won in 1961 in the Merchants Hall in Bristol and the company proudly remains there to this day.

In 2005 shareholders in Fosters purchased a small collection of coffee houses located in the West Country known as Boston Tea Party. These now famous café’s have proved to be extremely successful providing high quality coffee together with food that is both regional and seasonal. BTP have gone from strength to strength, despite fierce competition from major international coffee outlets.

Chairman Giles Clarke, is certain that the Fosters philosophy set long ago is still good today. “People remember the food they eat as being part of a good event and we tailor each event to our client’s needs and tastes. We use excellent local produce which our very talented chefs use to create mouth-watering dishes and along with the company’s excellent service this has stood us in good stead across the years, I am extremely proud of what the staff at Fosters have achieved”.

For press/media information please contact:

Andrew Wright or Julie Cooper at FAB!

T: 0870-389-3210 E: info@fab-1.org.uk

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