The Big Group Gets Bigger with Compass Group Australia

The Big Group, Australia’s premier hospitality and events company, has entered a transformative new chapter, welcoming Compass Group Australia as a strategic investor. This investment is built on shared beliefs about creativity at scale, the power of Australia’s event economy and the potential for Australian hospitality to lead on the world stage.

Australia’s event economy is a powerhouse, contributing over $49 billion to the national economy and representing one of the country’s most dynamic and fastest-growing sectors. From the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup, from intimate weddings to large corporate gatherings, events create jobs, energise communities and showcase Australian culture to the world, generating economic momentum that drives tourism, hospitality, retail and more.

The Big Group has been at the heart of this story for 35 years, partnering with Australia’s most significant events, including the Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open, and welcoming over two million guests annually. The investment by Compass Group Australia will supercharge this legacy, opening the door to bigger stages, more cities and greater global impact.

The Art of Australian Hospitality Meets Global Scale

The Big Group remains 100% founder led and operated. The company’s story, team and creative DNA remain unchanged. What changes is what’s possible.

Compass Group Australia, the country’s largest food and support services company, operates across 700 locations nationwide and is well-known for its ability to scale founder-led brands while preserving their creative spirit. At the heart of this approach is a commitment to creating world class hospitality experiences that reflect the industry they are serving, whether it be the Australian Defence Force, Global technology players or major sporting events like the Australian Open.

Compass Group Australia’s investment in The Big Group is a vote of confidence in what Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh have built over the past three and a half decades. It is a testament to the craft, creativity and distinctly Australian way of hosting that sits at the centre of The Big Group’s operations. It recognises that the Art of Australian Hospitality is world-class and ready for an even bigger stage.

With Compass Group Australia’s backing, The Big Group now has the strength and scale to expand its footprint across Australia and beyond, bringing the company’s signature creativity and high-touch hospitality to new cities and venues, and allowing it to compete for and deliver world-class experiences at an even greater scale. It will also create more opportunities for The Big Group’s team of more than 2,200 staff, from learning and leadership development to working across new venues and collaborations.

The Big Group’s leadership team will continue to lead the business as they have done to this point, retaining the same people, values and creative vision that have guided the company from the beginning, and ensuring that The Big Group’s unique culture of innovation, imagination and creative spirit remains as the organisation embarks on its next chapter.

“We believe great venues and brilliant events can transform cities, creating opportunities for people and showcasing Australia to the world,” says Bruce Keebaugh, Founder of The Big Group. “This partnership allows us to amplify that mission. We’re not changing who we are; we’re expanding what we can do. When local passion meets global capability and when Australian hospitality takes centre stage, everyone’s invited to something extraordinary. The Big Group remains a proudly Australian business – independently founder led, locally grounded and dedicated to the art of Australian hospitality.”

Adds Joanne Taylor, Managing Director of Compass Group Australia, “We’re thrilled to welcome The Big Group to the Compass Group Australia family. They represent everything we look for in a hospitality business: entrepreneurship, creative talent and a proven ability to deliver exceptional hospitality at scale. Bruce and his team have built something truly remarkable over the past 35 years, and their distinctly Australian approach to hospitality is ready for the world stage. We’re not just investing in The Big Group’s growth, together we’re investing in the future of Australia’s event economy and the thousands of people whose careers and communities it supports.”

The respective businesses are working through certain usual prerequisite conditions for finalising an arrangement of this nature.

About The Big Group

With offices in Melbourne and Sydney, The Big Group is Australia’s premier hospitality and events company, providing extraordinary experiences at scale. The Big Group is dedicated to offering memorable destinations, high-touch hospitality and creativity for every occasion. The company employs over 2,200 staff and is renowned for its partnerships with some of Australia’s most significant events, including the Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open, collectively accommodating more than two million guests annually.

In 2024, The Big Group officially launched in Sydney, spearheading its move with two exciting new venue partnerships. A collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) has seen The Big Group take over and reimagine its venues, with Canvas restaurant on Level 4 as the centrepiece. A stunning space with harbour views, Canvas quickly made its mark on the city, scoring One Chef’s Hat in its first month.

In 2025, The Big Group launched ILUMINA, its second Sydney venture and its largest venue to date; a state-of-the-art event space and the jewel in the crown of the new 1 Elizabeth CBD precinct.

This year, The Big Group celebrates 35 years at the forefront of the Australian hospitality and events industry.

About Compass Group Australia

Compass Group Australia is the country’s largest food and support services company, with a proud heritage in hospitality and a purpose-driven approach to creating exceptional experiences. Operating across more than 700 locations nationwide, they bring specialist expertise to diverse sectors, ranging from healthcare and education to business, industry and remote environments. With over 15,000 team members, Compass Group Australia serves thousands of Australians every day, fostering health, wellbeing and meaningful connections in the communities they operate in.  At the heart of everything they do stands their purpose – to Serve a better future, for people, communities in which they operate, and the planet.

Through their portfolio of specialist brands, including Levy, which delivers bespoke hospitality at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, Compass Group Australia combines scale with individuality. They are committed to championing founder-led brands, helping them grow while preserving their identity, whilst continuing to lead the way in sector-specific innovation across food, hospitality and support services.