About Us

For more than 40 years, Advance Group has established itself as a key player in the UK's Foodservice and Laundry Equipment Markets, steadily expanding its offerings.

We cover everything from commercial kitchen and laundry projects, service & maintenance, to specialist products and data-driven solutions. Advance Group remains a dominant force in the market, catering to esteemed clients from independents to national operators likes of IKEA, Jamie Oliver, IHG, Care UK, Hollywood Bowl, Mountain and Haven.


Meet the team

"Advance supported us meticulously throughout the design of our substantial refurbishment, with careful consideration to how the retirement food & beverage operation would continue, through to the execution of the project was excellent. What a superb new kitchen, that is leading the way in energy efficiency and decarbonisation. We are always reassured of the Advance team being our catering equipment partner of choice, servicing, maintaining, and refurbishing all our estate in a proactive and partnership approach."

- Tim Brooke, BUPA Director of Hotel Services & Customer First

DINING | LEISURE | CARE | EDUCATION

Our Leadership Team

AWARDS
2022 & 2023 FEJ Multi-site Kitchen House of the Year - Winner | 2022 CEDA Design Project £200k - £500k - Winner
2021 Catering Insight Service and Maintenance of the Year - Winner | 2023 CEDA Design Project £250k - £500k - Winner

The History of Advance
1981
 It all began on a Saturday in Oxford when Steve Coates, founder, carried out our first job fixing a hot cupboard, pocketing £17.25 cash. Our journey had begun!
1985
With the company growing from strength to strength, we picked up the keys to our new office on Sarum Road (fondly known as the bungalow or shack as one customer called it)
1983
 The Toshiba ER648 microwave oven was our first equipment sale - curring edge technology at the time!
1983
It was not long before we installed our first kitchen, a Lincat suite for Greene King.
1981
1985
1986
 The intrduction of CAD to our kitchen designs improved output and increased efficiency. Further technological advancements saw the introduction of a computer & fax machine in the office.
1992
NS Microwave renamed as Advance Catering Equipment. Back then the yellow Pages was the internet browser and Advance was chosen as it’s near the top of the list!
1987
 Always leading innovation, we designed the industry’s first pub template kitchen for Whitbreads Brewers Fayre brand
1992
Our first trainees start on the Youth Training Scheme.
1986
1992
1998
 In the same year we moved to Dantom House, named after Steve and Felicity’s children DANielle and TOM.
2003
We became partners with innovative American brand Thermodyne
1999
 We designed the kitchen for Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons which won the grand prix award for best designed kitchen
2002
The beginning of a great partnership with Angelo Po
1998
2003
2007
 We won CEDA’s best kitchen design and innovation award and in the May of this year we had our first bulk order of 100 Thermodynes
2011
One evening at our northern office (the curry house at Woburn Sands), the idea to create a bespoke integrated management system was written on a napkin
2007
 We employed our first graduate and started our management training programme
2008
We installed our 300th kitchen for Mitchelle & Butlers
2007
2011
2011
 Steve Coates became Chairman passing over the running of the company to Exec Team.
2014
Our IntEquip System was awarded the TRG 2014 non food product development of the year award.
2012
 we reached a kitchen milestone with the installation of our 5000th kitchen! In that same year we began the initial development of our integrated management system which went on to become our award winning IntEquip Sysyem Our warehouse closes and all logistics and parts are moved to KET and First Choice.
2012
We Launched our charity support and raised £6,000 for Reubens Retreat.
2011
2014
2014
 We reached 1 million service calls.
2014
Company charity fundraising total reaches £20,000
2014
 Italian MAM forni, branded FIREDOME, became one of our key partners.
2014
Cumalative company turnover broke £300 million
2014
2014
2016
 We became ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 certified
2021
Ryan Yeates appointed Group MD and builds a new Leadership Team for future growth
2020
 Covid devastated the UK hospitality industry. Advance supports its Care customers through these difficult times.
2021
Launch Advantage
2016
2021
2021
 Catering Insight Service and Maintenance of the Year - Winner
2022
FEJ Multi-site Kitchen House of the Year - Winner
2022
 Launch of Advance Group 2026 – A Plan for “our” Future, CEDA Design Project £200k - £500k - Winner
2022
Launch Essentials by Advance
2021
2022
2023
 Advance breaks £20m revenue in one year for the first time
2023
FEJ Multi-site Kitchen House of the Year - Winner , CEDA Design Project £250k - £500k - Winner
2023
 Launch of the new Customer First suite
2023
Secures largest single order worth £6.5m
2023
2023

Some Of Our Customers