Centerplate Adds Heritage Portfolio Limited To UK Division

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the leading event hospitality provider to premier sporting venues, convention centers, and entertainment destinations across North America and the United Kingdom, has stepped up its expansion plans and strengthened its presence in Scotland by welcoming Heritage Portfolio Limited, a major provider of private and corporate hospitality at many of Scotland's iconic event venues, as the newest addition to the company's growing hospitality brand.

The value of the deal is not being disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, Centerplate will retain the Heritage Portfolio name to serve historic homes, museums, art galleries, theatres and off-premise catering in the UK and the company's Directors will remain in place.

Created in 2002 through the merger of Heritage Hospitality and Portfolio Catering, the entrepreneurial Edinburgh-based company has become known for the quality of its event catering and cafe services at national art galleries and high profile visitor attractions. Heritage Portfolio has served at The Palace of Holyrood House since 2002, and last year was granted a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen of England as supplier of catering services. 

"This is an exciting period of unprecedented growth for Centerplate," said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate. "Heritage Portfolio is a natural fit for our expanding presence because they share a commitment to excellence and a focus on providing a world-class local experience to each and every guest."

Other premier clients now served by the combined company include: the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and The Signet Library. Centerplate's existing UK portfolio includes the ACC Liverpool; Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter; the Copper Box Arena and other premier sporting venues such as Barclay's Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane; and Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium.

The Heritage Portfolio division will be combined with Centerplate's existing UK operations under Adam Elliott, President of Centerplate's UK division.

"The addition of Heritage Portfolio contributes a great depth and diversity of expertise to the company, and their personnel and central resource unit will provide invaluable support in Scotland for our established heritage team," stated Elliot. "Combining our heritage and events divisions with Heritage Portfolio's business, which has a proven track record in managing outside events as well as on-site cafes in Scotland, also provides us with an excellent platform to re-launch and re-brand our two heritage and outside events operations under the Heritage Portfolio name."

Heritage Portfolio's Executive Director Alan Duff concludes:  "This is a momentous development for Heritage Portfolio and we are extremely pleased to be joining a global brand with the strength and experience of Centerplate. In essence, this arrangement opens up new opportunities for all of us to be involved in a bigger and better company, whilst still focusing on the niche heritage sector in which we currently operate."                                                                                    

About Centerplate
Centerplate "Makes it Better To Be There" for more than 115 million guests each year in over 350 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America and the United Kingdom. Centerplate has provided event hospitality to 30 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 13 Super Bowls, 21 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and the largest plated dinner in history. Recently, the company was named the fastest growing restaurant/hospitality group in the United States by Nation's Restaurant News, and has recently expanded operations in the United Kingdom. Visit the company online at centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate