#cateys

[mrvonfetysz-blog]

#Łódź #Lodz #Ldz #Litzmannstadt #Poland #Polska #Cat #Cats #Cateys (w: Łódź, Poland)

[great-northern-hotel-london]

GNH London shortlisted for Cateys Independent Hotel of the Year Award

We've just been shortlisted for the Cateys Independent Hotel of the Year award - woohoo! Fantastic news and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for the outcome.

[schoolfoodplan]

LACA chair Anne Bull, the head of school catering and facilities services with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, was awarded a Catey this week as the winner of the Public Sector Caterer Award. The Cateys are widely regarded as the hospitality industry’s answer to the Oscars. The Cateys recognises the sector’s highest flyers, strongest performers and hottest brands, as determined by those best placed to decide - the industry.

The Catey was given in recognition of her twin achievements in leading 1,700 staff producing 21,000 meals a day in a business turning over £15m a year. This is alongside her national role as LACA chair in which she has represented the organisation on the School Food Plan expert panel and handled the horsemeat scandal.

We spoke to Anne about her award and the very special evening:

How did you feel when your name was announced? Total shock and disbelief!! I was so chuffed to reach the shortlist of such a prestigious award – but to win……….a really humbling experience as your peers nominate you and in my view that’s the highest accolade anyone can get

What does winning a Catey mean to you and your team? They are thrilled to think that school food is “up there with the best” in the catering industry. I have a fantastic team who work hard and share my passion of providing good quality food and service for the pupils in our schools.

What is the biggest school meal challenge you have faced in your authority? The biggest challenge has to be the e. coli outbreak that affected schools in five authorities in South Wales in September 2005 where tragically one child died and many children were very poorly.

The subsequent inquiry was led by Professor Hugh Pennington and pointed to cross contamination between raw and cooked meat from the butcher.

The processes and robust procedures in food safety terms were commended in the hearing. The biggest challenge was to improve staff morale, to maintain the confidence and reputation of our service to customers, pupils, parents and clients through this difficult and dark period.

What is your proudest school food achievement? From a personal perspective, winning a Catey is certainly a proud moment, but as a caterer and representing over 800 LACA members, it has to be being asked to join the Expert Food Panel and work with like minded people who share my passion and commitment in wanting the best for the pupils in our schools. This has been a privilege.

If you could change anything about school meals, what would you change? I’d bring back the school lunch hour in all our schools. Our frontline staff are professionally trained and are preparing, cooking and serving high quality nutritious food up and down the country.

But it really is soul destroying for all concerned because the children and young people in our schools are not given sufficient time to enjoy the meals. They are being rushed and have to eat the meal at speed as some schools only have a 40 minute break. This is totally inadequate when 800+ pupils have to go through the serving area to get their food.