The deal includes Genuine Dining’s café and wholesale coffee business JAAQ Coffee and sees the contract catering group’s majority shareholder Luke Johnson exit the business
JAAQ Coffee has a growing wholesale channel serving corporate businesses in London | Photo credit: via Danny Grey/LinkedIn
UK hospitality group WSH has bolstered its coffee portfolio with the acquisition of JAAQ Coffee parent company Genuine Dining for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 1999 as Yes Dining, contract caterer Genuine Dining rebranded in 2011 after selling a majority stake to Risk Capital Partners (RCP) – a private equity firm led by former Pizza Express Chairman Luke Johnson. The company’s provides catering for 45 workplaces, including film studios, hotels, government offices and research parks.
In November 2022, Genuine Dining partnered with mental health awareness charity Just Ask A Question (JAAQ) to launch café concept, JAAQ Coffee, in Whitechapel, London.
Supporting JAAQ’s mission to challenge stigmas around mental health, JAAQ Coffee now operates 14 cafés and a wholesale channel serving corporate clients, including music streaming service Spotify and media group News UK.
London-based specialty coffee roaster and social enterprise supplies the brand’s coffee.
UK hospitality group WSH said Genuine Dining will continue to operate under its own management structure, with CEO Chris Mitchell retaining his position. However, the acquisition sees Genuine Dining’s Chairman and majority shareholder Luke Johnson exit the business after 14 years of ‘active involvement’.
“Partnering with WSH is an exciting moment for Genuine Dining. In 14 years, we have grown significantly, introducing new services, and to meet our future ambitions, it was important we selected a partner who lives and breathes our values and champions our individuality,” Mitchell said.
Founded in Reading in 2001, WSH has built a broad hospitality portfolio which includes the catering firms BaxterStorey, Searcys, Holyroyd Howe, BM and Caterlink. In 2008, WSH acquired a majority stake in high street café operator and catering provider Benugo and added 13-strong London coffee shop and wine bar concept Notes to its roster in November 2022.