Lincat
Lincat is a British manufacturer of commercial catering and foodservice equipment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Lincat is a British commercial catering-equipment manufacturer headquartered in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire. Established in 1971, the company began by producing electrically heated, large-scale cooking equipment for professional kitchens. It later broadened its range to include gas-heated appliances, food-preparation equipment, ventilation systems and other products used by restaurants, hotels, institutional caterers and corporate-scale foodservice operations. The company developed from a Lincolnshire manufacturing business into a broader group through organic expansion and acquisitions. Its acquisition of IMC in December 1994 added a specialist foodservice-equipment operation based in Wrexham. Britannia was acquired in November 2002, while Heydal, a kitchen-ventilation manufacturer, joined the group in March 2007 and was subsequently integrated with the Britannia brand. The group later sold Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster in August 2009, illustrating a degree of portfolio reshaping alongside its expansion. Lincat moved into a purpose-built 12,000-square-metre manufacturing facility in 1997. The site was formally opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 1 June 1998 and remains associated with the company’s North Hykeham base. The group’s operations have included Lincat, IMC and Britannia Kitchen Ventilation, with IMC based at Wrexham Industrial Estate and Britannia Kitchen Ventilation at the Sydenham Industrial Estate in Leamington Spa. Lincat is also a member of the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association. The company’s portfolio covers professional cooking and preparation equipment, including electrically and gas-heated cooking appliances, commercial ovens, ranges, preparation equipment, ventilation products and related spares. It has marketed products under the Lincat name and the Silverlink brand, and has claimed to offer more than 450 products alongside a wider catalogue of finished products and spare parts. The business also provides on-site training to commercial cooks on the use of its equipment. Lincat achieved several capital-market milestones during its development. It was floated on the Unlisted Securities Market in 1988, moved to the London Stock Exchange in 1994 and transferred to the Alternative Investment Market on 20 August 2007. Its participation as an Official Supplier to the 2011 WorldSkills Cooking Competition in London provided a prominent industry-facing role and connected the brand with professional culinary training and competition cooking. Lincat has also received Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards, according to the referenced company history. The available reference material presents Lincat as an active British foodservice-equipment manufacturer with a strong professional-kitchen orientation rather than a consumer-appliance brand. Its positioning rests on commercial durability, a broad equipment range, manufacturing capability and support for professional users. Exact current ownership, management, website address, financial performance and international sales structure are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Lincat Ltd was founded in 1971 in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire. Its initial manufacturing activity centred on electrically heated equipment designed for large-scale and professional catering operations. The company subsequently expanded beyond electric appliances: gas-heated cooking equipment was introduced in 1988, broadening the range available to commercial kitchens and strengthening Lincat’s position as a supplier rather than a single-product specialist. The company entered the public markets during a period of expansion. It was floated on the Unlisted Securities Market in 1988 and progressed to a listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. That same year, Lincat acquired IMC in December, adding an established foodservice-equipment operation based on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The acquisition contributed to the group’s development beyond its original Lincolnshire manufacturing base. Lincat continued to build its operating portfolio in the early 2000s. Britannia was acquired in November 2002, giving the group a further brand and capability in commercial kitchen equipment. In March 2007, the company purchased Heydal, a kitchen-ventilation manufacturer, and combined it with Britannia to form or support the Britannia Kitchen Ventilation operation. Britannia Kitchen Ventilation was based at the Sydenham Industrial Estate in Leamington Spa, while IMC operated from Wrexham. A further capital-markets change took place on 20 August 2007, when Lincat transferred to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The move followed the company’s earlier quotation history and placed the business within the AIM segment used by smaller and growing companies. In August 2009, Lincat sold Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster. This disposal reduced the group’s portfolio in that area while leaving its principal commercial catering-equipment activities intact. Manufacturing infrastructure was another important part of Lincat’s development. The company moved to its present-day 12,000-square-metre facility in 1997. The factory was formally opened on the afternoon of 1 June 1998 by the Duke of Edinburgh. The site is in North Hykeham, close to the A46 bypass and near the boundary between North Kesteven and Lincoln. The facility has also included staff amenities such as a gym, reflecting the site’s role as more than a production location. Lincat’s product offer has covered the major equipment needs of professional kitchens. Its range includes electrically and gas-heated cooking equipment, food-preparation equipment, ventilation products and associated spares. The company has used the Lincat name as well as the Silverlink brand, while group businesses have operated under names including IMC and Britannia Kitchen Ventilation. The referenced material describes a range exceeding 450 items and claims a high volume of finished products and spares sold weekly, although those operating figures are not independently substantiated in the supplied references. The business has also supported users through on-site training for commercial cooks. Its industry profile was reinforced in 2011, when Lincat became an Official Supplier of catering equipment to the WorldSkills Cooking Competition in London. The company is identified as a member of the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association and has received Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards according to the referenced account. The available material does not identify the company’s founder, current executives, current parent or owner, current website, ticker symbol or detailed present-day financial condition. It does, however, establish Lincat as an active British foodservice-equipment company with a manufacturing base in Lincolnshire, a history of acquisitions and disposals, and a portfolio aimed primarily at professional and institutional catering users.
- 2011
WorldSkills Cooking supplier appointment
[1]Lincat becomes an Official Supplier of catering equipment for the WorldSkills Cooking Competition in London.
- 2009
Mercury Appliances is sold
[1]Lincat sells Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster in August.
- 2007
Heydal is acquired
[1]Lincat acquires kitchen-ventilation manufacturer Heydal and combines it with Britannia.
- 2007
Lincat transfers to AIM
[1]The company transfers its quotation to the Alternative Investment Market on 20 August.
- 2002
Britannia is acquired
[1]Lincat acquires Britannia in November, expanding its group brand and commercial-kitchen activities.
- 1998
North Hykeham factory is formally opened
[1]The factory is formally opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 1 June.
- 1997
The company moves to a larger manufacturing facility
[1]Lincat relocates to its present-day 12,000-square-metre manufacturing site in North Hykeham.
- 1994
Lincat joins the London Stock Exchange
[1]The company moves from the Unlisted Securities Market to a London Stock Exchange listing and acquires IMC later that year.
- 1988
Gas-heated equipment is introduced
[1]Lincat expands its commercial cooking portfolio by introducing gas-heated cooking equipment.
- 1988
The company enters the Unlisted Securities Market
[1]Lincat is floated on the Unlisted Securities Market.
Products and positioning
A British professional-kitchen equipment manufacturer focused on durable, commercial-scale cooking, preparation and ventilation solutions for the foodservice sector.
Commercial cooking equipment · 1971
Commercial electric cooking equipment
Lincat began with electrically heated, large-scale cooking equipment for professional kitchens. This part of the portfolio is intended for demanding foodservice environments such as restaurants, hotels, institutional kitchens and corporate catering operations, where equipment needs to support repeated, high-volume preparation.
Commercial cooking equipment · 1988
Commercial gas cooking equipment
Introduced in 1988, gas-heated equipment extended Lincat’s commercial cooking offer beyond electric appliances. The range forms part of the company’s professional-kitchen proposition, providing equipment configurations suited to foodservice operators with different kitchen layouts, fuel preferences and production requirements.
Professional catering equipment brand
Silverlink
Silverlink is a Lincat-associated brand covering professional catering equipment. The supplied references identify it as part of the group’s product architecture, although they do not provide a complete model-by-model description or a precise launch date.
Foodservice equipment
IMC
IMC became part of Lincat through an acquisition in December 1994. Operating from Wrexham Industrial Estate, it represents a specialist foodservice-equipment division within the broader group.
Commercial kitchen ventilation · 2007
Britannia Kitchen Ventilation
Britannia Kitchen Ventilation developed through Lincat’s acquisition of Britannia and subsequent integration of Heydal, a kitchen-ventilation manufacturer. The division supplied ventilation products for commercial kitchens and was based at the Sydenham Industrial Estate in Leamington Spa.
Foodservice equipment
Food-preparation equipment and spares
Lincat’s stated professional range includes food-preparation equipment and replacement spares. These products complement the company’s cooking and ventilation systems and support the maintenance needs of commercial foodservice operators.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011WorldSkills Cooking Competition supplier partnership
United Kingdom
Lincat served as an Official Supplier of catering equipment for the WorldSkills Cooking Competition held in London. The partnership placed the brand in a professional culinary-competition environment and highlighted its relevance to training and skilled commercial cooking.
Outcome. The appointment increased Lincat’s visibility among professional cooks, trainees and the wider foodservice-equipment sector.
Brand decisions
2009
Sell Mercury Appliances to Aga RangemasterM&ABackground
Lincat reviewed its group portfolio after expanding through several acquisitions.
Action taken
The company sold Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster in August 2009.
Aftermath
The disposal removed Mercury Appliances from the group while Lincat continued to focus on commercial catering and foodservice equipment.
Sale price. £0.4 million (August 2009)
2007
Acquire Heydal and integrate it with BritanniaM&ABackground
Lincat was building a broader commercial-kitchen group and had acquired Britannia in 2002.
Action taken
The company acquired kitchen-ventilation manufacturer Heydal in March 2007 and merged it with the Britannia brand.
Aftermath
The transaction supported the Britannia Kitchen Ventilation division and added specialist ventilation capability to the group.
Acquisition price. £0.4 million (March 2007)
1988
Expand from electric into gas-heated cooking equipmentStrategyBackground
Lincat initially manufactured electrically heated large-scale cooking equipment and sought to broaden its commercial-kitchen offering.
Action taken
The company introduced gas-heated cooking equipment.
Aftermath
The move expanded Lincat’s range of professional cooking solutions, although the supplied source does not quantify its commercial effect.
Recent events
- 2011
Lincat becomes an Official Supplier to the WorldSkills Cooking Competition[1]
Campaign · Other
Lincat supplied catering equipment for the WorldSkills Cooking Competition held in London, associating the company with professional culinary education and competition cooking.
- 2009
Lincat sells Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster[1]
M&A
The group sold Mercury Appliances to Aga Rangemaster in August 2009.
- 2007
Lincat transfers to the Alternative Investment Market[1]
Other
Lincat moved its quotation to the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market on 20 August 2007.
- 2007
Heydal is acquired and combined with the Britannia brand[1]
M&A
Lincat acquired kitchen-ventilation manufacturer Heydal in March 2007 and merged it with the Britannia brand.
Sources1 sources
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