Luke Johnson, the serial investor, has taken his first steps into the contract catering arena after acquiring a majority stake in Yes Dining, a subsidiary of Bright Futures.
Bright Futures Group (BFG) sold Yes Dining, which is overseen by managing director Chris Mitchell, for a nominal amount plus the forgiveness of £450,000, which the group owed to Yes Dining Limited (YDL).
BFG bought the South of England-based Yes Dining in an all-shares deal worth £237,000, last September.
Yes Dining will now be rebranded as the Genuine Dining Company..
Johnson said: “I am hugely encouraged by Chris and his team’s determination to offer something unique within contract catering. Their focus on consistency, quality and top customer service is admirable. The expectation is that with our support and experience Genuine Dining can successfully grow into a niche contract caterer.”
Johnson recently took a stake in Draft House, the three-strong London-based pub concept founded by Charlie McVeigh.
The former owner of Pizza Express and founder of Strada is one of the most successful and influential investors in the restaurant sector. He currently has personal stakes in the six-strong Feng Sushi chain and 3Sixty Restaurants.
Through his investment vehicle, Risk Capital Partners, Johnson also holds majority stakes in Giraffe and Patisserie Holdings.
