TrustHouse adds corrections specialist ABL through acquisition

Elior Group, the French parent company of U.S. foodservice management firm TrustHouse Services Group, has announced the acquisition of ABL Management, a Louisiana-based provider of dining services to the correctional and higher education markets. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, ABL will provide TrustHouse with an additional portfolio of nearly 200 corrections and higher education clients.

ABL generated revenues of around $60 million in 2014 while TrustHouse generated $498 million to a client base consisting primarily of institutional business in the senior dining, higher education, corrections and K-12 segments. Earlier this year, the company acquired senior dining specialist Cura Hospitality, which had 2014 revenues of $101 million.

“I am pleased to welcome ABL Management to the Group,” said Elior Chairman/CEO Philippe Salle in a statement accompanying the acquisition announcement. “Its strong client portfolio and its remarkable expertise are reinforcing our group’s capabilities to better cater to both educational environments. This acquisition is perfectly in line with the Group’s 2016-2020 strategic plan and Elior Group will continue to seize opportunities of such quality in the United States to achieve its ambitions to expand in the region in specific niche markets.”

“We pride ourselves on the touchpoints we have with our clients, many of whom we have worked with for decades,” added ABL Founder/President John Appleton. “In our markets, delivering high quality, nutritional options plays a crucial role in ensuring overall security and safety as it is often the primary area of interest for the clients we serve; and in the higher education market, culinary innovation remains the focal point. We look forward to sharing the TrustHouse Services culinary expertise with our clients.”

“ABL’s reputation for having a customer-centric focus aligns well with TrustHouse Services’ market-leading offerings in these segments,” said TrustHouse CEO Brian Poplin “We welcome the 800 ABL employees and nearly 200 client accounts to the TrustHouse family; we plan to enhance the employee and customer experience through innovation and a commitment to exemplary service.”

Elior acquired TrustHouse in 2013.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]