Canteen Collective seeking investment to fuel expansion

by Startacus Admin

Ethical Artisan Café Chain, Canteen Collective crowdfunding to support further growth and explore sustainable event catering and B2B solutions.

Canteen Collective, a fast-growing, climate positive hospitality group that offers a planet-conscious menu focusing on local provenance and seasonality, has launched a £400,000 investment round to help drive forward its ambitious growth plans. The London-headquartered business, which is on target to turnover 2.5m this year, is set to more than double its revenues by 2025 as it expands its sustainability-focused brand. 

Canteen Collective provides all day dining with a local artisan café restaurant experience where customers can also enjoy a diverse range of specialty coffee. Founded in 2019 by former British Army Commander Tim Grant, the company is underpinned by a core focus on Community, Environment and Quality. Initially opening in London’s Notting Hill district, the group has expanded, opening two further locations in the capital, including its flagship outlet in Putney, and one in Kent. Despite the impact of the global pandemic, the company generated more than 60% revenue growth last year. 

Canteen Collective operates with a clear strategy to measure, reduce and offset carbon, working with carefully selected suppliers which are committed to an environmentally responsible supply chain. These include UK sustainable meat providers The Ethical Butcher, London-based brewers Mondo Brewing Company and local artisan bakers Sciascia & Storey. 

The company is involved in a number of net zero programmes including an initiative where it plants a tree for every kilo of coffee sold, offsetting 150% of its carbon footprint in the process. Canteen Collective is also a member of the global network 1% for the Planet, contributing one per cent of its annual revenue to support accredited projects that tackle critical environmental issues.

With a commitment to providing high quality and sustainably sourced food for its customers, Canteen Collective is also a people-focused business. The company pays its staff the London Living Wage or better and provides free private health insurance to full-time colleagues. Through the communication platform Yapster, it encourages open and engaging feedback from its team. 

Canteen Collective aims to use some of the funds from this investment round to open two new locations in London the next year. The company is already working with a number of sustainable landlords to identify suitable locations that would complement its brand. With Canteen Collective managing external catering and coffee sales at a number of major events and festivals, additional funds will also go towards growing its presence within that market. The company will also further invest in its B2B coffee sales and e-commerce. 

Founder Tim Grant said: “Canteen Collective was founded as a triple bottom line company committed to People, Produce and the Planet. This is a core aim of the business that sits at the heart of everything we do. Our growth plans are entirely focused on expanding this mission, enabling the business to do more to promote sustainability while offering customers a great dining and socialising experience within our venues.   

“We’re delighted with the progress of the business which, despite the challenges of Covid, has been phenomenal and we are determined to achieve more on the back of this investment round. With a growing demand for high quality, ethically sourced food and drink and rising consumer expectations over hospitality providers committing to sustainable practices, we believe there is huge scope to expand the Canteen Collective brand across London, the South East and beyond.” 

 

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Published on: 23rd June 2022