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The Pantry Catering MD named as ‘UK’s Most Ambitious Business Leader’

26th Oct 2023 - 06:00
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Luke Consiglio, founder and managing director of The Pantry
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Luke Consiglio, founder and managing director of The Pantry, has been named the UK’s ‘Most Ambitious Business Leader’ as part of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2023.

The Pantry Catering won Public Sector Catering’s Contract Caterer of the year award as well as the LACA Catering Business of the Year Award.  

The LDC Top 50 champions the business leaders who are pushing for growth and building successful medium-sized businesses. Together, the top 50 business leaders employ more than 6,700 people and turn over more than £1.2Bn.

The Pantry started as a sandwich shop on Hayes high street in 2006 –with ambitions to become something far greater. Now as a contract caterer with nearly 150 clients across the education sector, The Pantry are one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, thanks to a ‘unwavering commitment to staff support, client care and exceptional fresh food’.

Consiglio said: “I’ve always been ambitious for The Pantry, but being named ‘Most Ambitious Business Leader’ was a very pleasant surprise, even for me.

“It’s recognition not only for myself, but for the whole Pantry Family, as they’re the ones driving our business forward every day. And the journey doesn’t end here. We’re hungrier than ever to achieve our ultimate ambition – to become the biggest company in our industry and feed more children every day than anyone else.”

Since buying a small sandwich shop, he has grown The Pantry into a £17m turnover contract caterer that employs 500 people and provides over 15,000 daily meals for schools.  

The judges commended Consiglio for the strength of his mission and values, his dedication to nurturing his team and the remarkable transformation of a small investment into an impressive business. This commercial success combined with Luke’s commitment to do good by helping children eat well and understand the power of healthy foods, set him apart according to the judges. 

Written by
Edward Waddell