Today we are mostly celebrating 1 year of the TAF Catering Consultancy Ltd and, hurrah, what a phenomenal ride!
Apparently we’re THE “fresh, forward-thinking, innovative, app-savvy & sustainability-focused” catering consultancy (not our words but some of the words used by the clients who’ve appointed us).
Hospitality UK* reported last year that the hospitality sector employed 3.2 million people and produced £130 billions of economic activity. It represented 10% of UK employment and third largest private sector employer. Hospitality is the largest sub-sector of the tourism industry, employing around three-quarters of its total workforce. Its contribution to the overall UK employment rate is impressive, being one of the seven top employers in every region in the country (11% employment across all regions).
Despite the historical figures, most occupations in hospitality, in 2019, are still perceived as “low-skilled” by the general public, making its appeal and recruitment rates poor compared to other industries.
Yesterday we attended BITES Live 2019. Hospitality business leaders shared thoughts with us on challenges and opportunities within the sector. A lively thought-provoking day, the speakers addressed independent F&B businesses, well-known pub and restaurant chains, food retailers and consultants. The common goal: to be inspir
ed, gain valuable insight and exchange experiences.
The “Top 100 most loved eating out brands” were presented by market research company Savanta in a report, charts and a video shedding light and insight on consumer behaviour and what makes customers loyal to brands. NB. Their report, which we now have copies of, is due to be launched later this month.
People and homegrown talent were very much highlighted at The Restaurant Show 2019, at Olympia, this year. We were blown away yesterday by the home-grown talent on display, especially given the alleged current skills shortage.
Firstly, what an exciting National Chef of the Year competition. If you were there, you would have celebrated for sure. Our competition talent pool – representing the “best of the best” – displayed an incredible culinary journey to create, innovate and wow.
We watched illustrious chefs Clare Smyth MBE (first female British chef to retain 3 Michelin stars) and Phil Howard (proprietor of 2 Michelin-starred The Square Restaurant) collaborate with peers, on the judging panel, representing the best and brightest culinary talent today. You could only watch on in awe and wonder: How could they possibly choose the “best of the best”?
Our catering consultancy is not even a year old and, for the first time, I was invited to be a judge for one of the most illustrious set of awards in our industry last Friday. With this said, it’s pretty fair to say I was super excited.
Why is this? I’ve always valued awards ceremonies as they highlight outstanding individuals, companies and initiatives making significant contributions to an industry – in this case, looking at the exceptional talent drawn from the wonderful world of contract catering, evaluating who does ”it” best and then presenting those considered the “best” with an award at a glittering awards gala dinner at a prestigious hotel in the heart of our fabulous city towards the end of the year, in front of peers and competitors.
Last Thursday 28th March, there was a breakfast debate at The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton about the ‘City of London: Prison and Prisoners’, where Alderman William Russell – due to be Lord Mayor of the City 2019/2020 subject to election – was the guest speaker. It was both an intimate yet very sobering session, one I was privileged to attend.
A recent Justice Data Lab Report says a Clink graduate is a WHOPPING 49.6% less likely to reoffend having been through training.
5 Things to Know:
Special Report on Single Use PlasticsTAF Catering Consultancy’s latest UK Foodservice sector special report focuses on the challenge of Single Use Plastics within the UK Foodservice Sector today.
The report is the only in-depth review and benchmark of its kind looking at how UK foodservices are dealing with the challenges around single use plastics today.
COMING SOON *** TAF’s SUP (PLASTICS) SPOTLIGHT ON UK FOODSERVICES 2019.
TAF Catering Consultancy’s latest UK Foodservice sector special report focuses on the challenge of Single Use Plastics within the UK Foodservice Sector today.
The report is the only in-depth review and benchmark of its kind looking at how UK foodservices are dealing with the challenges around single use plastics today. As a result of changing societal views, as well as governmental, local and global initiatives setting a course to change our behaviour to sustain the planet, TAF want to inspire UK Foodservices to drive A Plastic (free) Pollution Revolution with their first-of-a-kind report.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO GET YOUR EARLYBIRD COPY OF THE REPORT NEXT WEEK
Made it to #IFE2019 Well done Lori Hoinkes & Co!
Yesterday I was blown away with how foodservices have changed in the last 10 years. ALL exciting new products on show and all produced more responsibly than ever, to give us all hope for our planet.
My Top 5 Tastebud Ticklers were:
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