Dubai's dnata acquires travel market caterer

Dubai-based dnata on Wednesday said it has acquired a majority stake in En Route International Ltd, a supplier of bakery and packaged food solutions with operations in London, Dubai and the United States of America.

En Route International has ten years’ catering experience in the travel market and has an annual turnover of £12m, dnata said in a statement.

It provides a range of premium quality products and boasts a growing client list which includes British Airways, Delta and Emirates.

En Route also operates key distribution centres at two of the world’s busiest airports – London Heathrow in the UK and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the USA, the statement added.

Dnata said the latest deal represents a further investment in the airline catering sector, whose recent acquisitions in Alpha Flight Group Ltd and Wings Inflight Service extended the company’s international network to 75 airports in 39 countries.

“En Route is a niche player which offers highly creative and innovative food solutions, supported by robust logistics”, said Stewart Angus, divisional senior vice president, Associated Companies.

He said it would continue to operate independently and was looking forward to "developing and growing the business and to expanding its capability elsewhere”.

“Becoming part of dnata brings a number of new opportunities to En Route and will undoubtedly enhance our ability to develop and distribute our products to a wider audience,” said Alison Lessmann, managing director, En Route.

“That will enable us to both grow the business and provide greater opportunities and a secure future for our employees.”

Dnata is one of the world’s largest combined air services providers and is wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).