©Ezcater
US business catering platform Ezcater has acquired French peer Gocater, which represents its first international expansion move.
Paris-based Gocater allows businesses to find, compare, and order from hundreds of local caterers and restaurants online. Its platform is currently available in France and Germany.
The deal follows on from a Series D funding round last month in which Ezcater secured $100 million, led by Wellington Management Company. The firm said the round will allow it to deepen its product portfolio and grow overseas.
Ezcater and Gocater said they were both built to address the unique needs of businesspeople, with a strong focus on customer service and features like centralised invoicing, catering-specific reviews, and online receipts for easy expense reporting. They added that companies in the US annually spend $22 billion on business catering.
Stefania Mallett, Ezcater CEO, said: “It’s great to be the market leader in the US, but we’re inspired to help customers and catering partners worldwide.
“Gocater’s ingenuity, high calibre of talent, and company culture align perfectly with ours. Together, we’re unstoppable.”
Gocater CEO Stephen Leguillon added: “We are laser-focused on serving corporate customers and creating tools that make it easier for restaurants and caterers to provide catering for businesspeople.
“We immediately saw that Ezcater shared our vision. Joining forces with the number one player in the segment enables us to expand across Europe and beyond.”
In less than two years, Gogater claims to have acquired “hundreds of catering partners across France and Germany” and now serves thousands of business customers.
As part of Ezcater, the French firm aims to expand its catering partner network, by adding the European locations of popular US restaurants, as well as more European catering chains and independent favourites.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024