gategroup moves to full ownership of Cateringpor through majority stake acquisition
Agreement with TAP Air Portugal will see gategroup acquire an additional 51 percent stake in the Portuguese inflight caterer, pending regulatory approval
gategroup has reached an agreement with TAP Air Portugal to acquire a majority stake in Cateringpor – Catering de Portugal S.A., a move that will result in full ownership of the Portuguese airline catering company, subject to regulatory approval.
The transaction follows a public tender process and involves gategroup acquiring an additional 51 percent stake in Cateringpor. The company has held a minority shareholding in the caterer since 2020. Completion of the deal remains subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including clearance from the Portuguese Competition Authority.
As part of the agreement, Cateringpor will continue to provide inflight catering services to TAP Air Portugal under the contractual framework established through the tender process.
The acquisition builds on an existing partnership between gategroup and TAP Air Portugal at the carrier’s home base. Cateringpor has long been associated with Portugal’s national airline and plays a key role in supporting its inflight catering operations.
According to gategroup, bringing Cateringpor fully into its portfolio will support operational excellence, strengthen supply chain integration and create opportunities for future business growth in the Portuguese market.
The transaction aligns with gategroup’s broader strategy of targeted geographic expansion and portfolio optimization. By consolidating its position in Cateringpor, the company further strengthens its presence in a key European aviation market while supporting its objectives for disciplined and profitable growth.
“Acquiring full ownership of Cateringpor is a definitive step in our strategy to drive profitable growth through targeted consolidation,” said Christoph Schmitz, CEO of gategroup.
Sébastien Burnier, Chief Operating Officer and President Southern Europe & Africa at gategroup, said the new ownership structure will allow the company to more closely align Cateringpor’s operations with its global network.
“This acquisition is a strategic catalyst for gategroup. The new ownership structure allows us to seamlessly integrate Cateringpor’s high-quality operations into our global network,” Burnier said. “This move unlocks the synergies needed to accelerate sustainable growth and set a new industrial standard for our customers in Portugal and across gategroup.”
