Winter 2009 - Welcome

Well it’s that time of the year again when we look back over the past 12 months and wonder where they have gone.

This has been a most trying year for the whole of our industry, with the economic downturn impacting in every hospitality sector. But the Craft Guild has been just as busy as ever.

In my last report I talked about the two new competitions at the Restaurant Show Gastro Pub Challenge and Indian Restaurant Team Challenge. Both competitions were a real success generating lots of interest from the visitors and also the sectors they sit in. It is planned to run these competitions again in 2010.

Also we have seen some major renovations going on at the Craft Guild HQ in Richmond. The head office was bought by the members for the members and was in need of some TLC – a significant project is nearing completion so that all may benefit in years to come.

Our annual Business Partners lunch was held a little later this year but again a big attendance with more than 65 guests sitting down to a splendid three course lunch, hosted by the Twickenham Stadium team with the brigade headed by Craft Guild academy chef Ben Ford.

It was a great day for a photo opportunity where we all got to go out onto the terraces and had a photo just prior to the England Australia game. Thankfully the food was better than our performance at the match against Australia. It was also good to meet so many of our business partners, many of whom have been with us for many years and also several new ones.

The Crown Moran hotel played host yet again to the Craft Guild Christmas Lunch with a record number of families’ attending and, of course, Santa. Steve Scuffell and his team produced a splendid lunch as always making the whole day a fun event. I would also like to acknowledge all those business partners that support the event and supplied many of the raffle prizes.

Hotelympia will soon be here after the Christmas break and on Sunday, February 28, the Guild will be supporting the 10k run in aid of Springboard. We will of course be looking for Guild runners so please contact Suzanne Barshall at head office if you fancy being part of this great event and having a brisk walk, jog or run.

Our Culinary Academy will also be there flying the culinary flag for the Guild with several entries throughout the week and La Parade des Chefs. We wish them all the best in their endeavours.

Finally I would like to wish each and every one of our members and our business partners the very best for the Christmas and the New Year and look forward to meeting many of you in 2010.

Nick Vadis
National Chairman
Craft Guild of Chefs

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