New York's Taste Caterers will close at the end of April to become part of catering company Canard Inc. The 28-year-old company announced last week that it would hand over clients to its former competitor, as well as many of its chefs and waitstaff.
But that's not to say Canard is acquiring the company. The duo are billing the transition as a strategic alliance and not a merger. “After meeting with a half dozen companies, we decided that Canard Inc. was the best option to carry the Taste brand into the next decade,” Taste founder Jon Gilman said in a release about the partnership. “We are absolutely aligned in our food, style, and service philosophies, which stress the importance of creative, customized events for our clients.”
Taste principals Gilman and Anne Kitchens will remain actively involved during the transition, and Canard predicts the development will double the company's annual business. The change also means new types of clientele for Canard. “Canard has grown its business in the design, theater, and finance communities, and we look forward to working with Taste clients who are mainly from the arts, fashion, nonprofit, and media worlds,” said founder Stephen Kennard.
Taste officially closes May 1, and the handing over of its employees and accounts to Canard becomes effective the same day. The agreement retires the Taste name, with all affected employees working under the Canard banner.
