Catering giant Searcys has reported that its sales are surpassing pre-pandemic levels and it has exceeded its £175,000 charity pledge target in its 175th year.
Sales at the group are up in excess of nine per cent in the past eight months compared to figures seen in 2019.
The company said its success over the past year was due to pent-up demand for events, brand visibility from its celebration campaigns and “the sheer hard work of its team, united in restarting the business post-pandemic”.
Since Covid restrictions were lifted in early 2022, Searcys has hosted more than 15,600 events, welcomed over 50,000 event attendees, served 100,000 cups of tea and poured 175,000 glasses of champagne.
The company has also grown to more than 1,100 employees, along with the appointments of a new commercial director, head of recruitment, head of champagne and an additional operations director.
Three new venue partnerships have also been formed with Stationers’ Hall, Church House Westminster and social enterprise restaurant, Brigade.
The company’s 175th birthday was marked by the launch of London’s first Champagne Rolls Royce Bar on wheels, which is currently in residence at Battersea Power Station, while last October saw the return of the St Pancras Champagne Bar, which reopened with a new look following an extensive refurbishment.
Throughout the year to reach its anniversary charity pledge, the Searcys team partook in a variety of grassroots fundraising activities, volunteering and implementing initiatives across the venues, ranging from charity runs and bake sales to raising over £10,000 for #CookforUkraine across the group’s restaurants and bars.
Managing director Paul Jackson led a 175 mile ‘Tour De Searcys’ bike ride, which raised over £18,000.
Searcys 175th Birthday Ball for hospitality leaders raised £6,000 for its nominated causes.
Donations have been shared across nominated charities, including Hotel School and Beyond Food foundation.
Mr Jackson said: “After the past few years of uncertainty, our restaurants, champagne bars and events venues are back in full swing. Despite starting the year with the industry under lockdown restrictions, we have collectively achieved so much over the past 12 months.
“This 175th milestone year has been one of growth and celebration of our heritage – a testament to the legacy of our founder John Searcy. I would like to thank every member of the team for their hard work and commitment to delivering the highest quality event and dining experiences – I am enormously proud of every one of them.”
He added that the company would be focusing on the “art of finesse” this year with new product developments and campaigns in the pipeline.
