FCM Meetings & Events Acquires Fresh Group to Expand UK Footprint
Photo Credit: envato / dekddui1405
Skift Take
FCM Meetings & Events is adding creative and production capabilities in hopes of becoming a one-stop shop for all its clients' needs.
FCM Meetings & Events has acquired UK-based creative agency Fresh Group, its first acquisition, signaling a shift beyond its focus on logistics and venue sourcing.
“One of the benefits is being able to reduce leakage and fragmentation for our clients by being able to offer them a full end-to-end events solution,” said Frits de Kok, FCM’s head of meetings and events, EMEA.
The acquisition is in addition to a broader $20 million, multi-year investment in the company’s global meetings and events division. Parent company Flight Centre Travel Group has been investing in its corporate divisions, including M&E. Since 2022, FCM has focused on regional hubs, senior hires, and technology designed to better connect its events business with its corporate travel platform.
Fresh is expected to post about $23 million in revenue and $1.5 million in EBITDA in FY26, underscoring a business that is growing but still operating on relatively thin margins
The deal will quadruple FCM M&E’s UK team to about 100 employees, expanding operations in Manchester and Edinburgh, in addition to London. The UK hub will support a wider network spanning 19 markets, including Australia, India, and Mexico.
Fresh Group’s clients include Visa, Vodafone, Marks & Spencer, Currys, Siemens, Hyundai, Co-op, and Samsung.
“We have experienced a 50% increase in business year-on-year from 2025 to 2026,” said de Kok. “This acquisition expands our footprint and changes what we can deliver for clients.”
FCM M&E will now offer end-to-end services spanning venue sourcing, travel logistics, strategic meetings management, creative development, AV production, and post-event reporting.
The acquisition also targets a persistent industry challenge: fragmentation. Planners often rely on multiple vendors across logistics, production, and creative, increasing complexity and cost.
“Our combined capabilities will work in unison to remove the friction between planning and creation,” said Lee Harris, CEO of Fresh Group.
