FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Compass Group has agreed to acquire Vermaat Groep B.V., a leading premium food services business in Europe for an Enterprise Value of approximately €1.5 billion.
Vermaat, a high-performing multi-sector platform which offers tailored on-site food concepts, delivered-in solutions and strong consumer-focused retail expertise will provide Compass with a unique opportunity for further sustainable growth in Europe. The Company is a market leader in the Netherlands, with a growing presence in Germany and France, all of which are among Compass Group’s top 10 markets.
The Company is led by an outstanding leadership team which is reflected in its excellent operational track record, delivering a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20 per cent over the last 15 years, and industry leading margins. Its high retention rate reflects the quality of the offer and strong customer relationships. Vermaat is on track to generate sales of c.€700 million with a double-digit operating margin in 2025.
Following decades of leveraging acquisitions to build a high-growth market leader in North America, Compass is deploying the same successful blueprint in Europe to accelerate sectorisation. This new capability will enable the Group to better capitalise on existing opportunities and to continue expanding in Europe, where the total addressable market is worth at least €115 billion, with around half still self-operated.
The Vermaat management team will join Compass on completion of the acquisition and will continue operating the business on a standalone basis, whilst leveraging the benefits of being part of a larger Group.
Dominic Blakemore, Group CEO of Compass, said: “We are proud to announce this landmark acquisition. Vermaat is a best-in-class food services business which will significantly strengthen Compass Group’s premium offer across Europe and will provide us with exceptional leadership talent. This strategic acquisition represents a step change in our core markets by creating a strong platform for expansion across Europe.”
Rick Zeelen, CEO of Vermaat, added: “Compass and Vermaat are highly complementary businesses with similar cultures and priorities. The leadership team remains fully committed to executing its European growth strategy. Together, subject to regulatory approval, we will be able to provide clients with an even more compelling proposition in a highly attractive growth market, accelerating our premium offering in Europe. We look forward to joining Compass and the exciting journey ahead.”
This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and consultation with the Vermaat Works Council.
Compass Group has also announced today, its trading results for the third quarter ended 30 June 2025.
The Group states it has delivered another strong performance with organic revenue growth of 8.6% in the third quarter and 8.5% for the year to date. Both regions (North America and International) performed well, with North America delivering strong growth across all sectors. Net new business growth continued in the middle of its 4 – 5% target range, supported by strong client retention of over 96%.
The Group’s net expenditure on M&A was $1.1bn for the year to date, largely unchanged from its position at the half year. Compass states the integration of recent acquisitions is progressing ahead of expectations, and they are performing well.
Following the Group’s third quarter performance with continued strong organic revenue growth and M&A performing better than expected, Compass is upgrading its 2025 guidance. The Group now expects constant currency underlying operating profit growth to be towards 11%, driven by organic revenue growth above 8% and ongoing margin progression.
