Served. by Kanpla

2025 didn’t just pass - it exposed the fault lines in contract catering.
Some operators moved forward. Others stood still. And a few quietly fell behind.
As 2026 begins, the gap between front-runners and everyone else is widening - driven by data & AI, consolidation, experience design, and a growing demand for transparency.
To understand what really changed in 2025 - and what will actually matter in 2026 - we brought together three leaders with a front-row seat to the industry:
Peter Baech, Co-founder and CEO, Kanpla

Simon Elliot, Co-founder and Managing Partner, 4xi Global Consulting

Chris Stern, Founder & Managing Director, Stern Consultancy Ltd

Hosted by Toby Bonnett, the conversation cuts through the noise to examine what actually shifted in 2025 - and what will separate the front-runners from the rest in 2026.

When Sodexo left Denmark during the pandemic, Christian Lunner faced a choice: walk away or build something new. In this Served. Founder Story, the CEO and Partner at SERWIZ shares how a management buy-out became one of Denmark’s fastest-growing FM and catering companies.

In this episode of Served. Founder Stories, Peter Baech sat down with Simon Houston FIH, Co-founder and Director of Houston & Hawkes, to explore his journey from university placement to leading one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent caterers.
Founded in 2019, Houston & Hawkes has become known for its people-first culture, independent ownership, and B Corp certification - all achieved while navigating a global pandemic.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have always been part of the contract catering world - but in recent years, M&A activity has accelerated. From billion-euro exits to independents joining forces with larger groups, consolidation is reshaping the landscape. Newest example being Compass Group's acquisition of Vermaat for €1.5 billion.
In this Served. panel talk, we sat down with two experts who know both sides of the table: Graeme Smith, Corporate finance specialist at AlixPartners, and Ruston Toms FIH, Co-Founder and Former Director of Blue Apple Workplace Catering , who sold his business to CH&CO which then got acquired by Compass Group.

In this episode of Served., Peter Baech talks with Tony Johnson, CCXP, former Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Aramark and now CXO at 4xi Global Consulting. With more than 14 years in one of the world’s largest food service companies, Tony shares what he's learned about building a culture of service that actually works in contract catering.
From what great service really means to balancing tech and human touch, Tony makes one thing clear: if you want better customer experiences, you have to start with your people.