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Compass Group UK & Ireland celebrates Chef Appreciation Week

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This week has seen Compass Group UK & Ireland celebrate culinary talent from across the business, as part of Chef Appreciation Week 2023 (10th to 16th September).

Launched in 2013 and hosted by Compass Group, Chef Appreciation Week brings together the global food and hospitality industries to recognise the amazing jobs that talented chefs and culinary teams do every single day.

The theme of this year’s campaign has been: “Great People Inspire Great Food”, reflecting how Compass Group’s 200,000 culinarians worldwide are using food as a driving force for good, in kitchens, client venues, and the wider community.

The UK & I has over 4,000 chefs working across its sites and to celebrate they have been encouraged to create “Chef Shares”, giving timesaving tips and tricks and shouting about their secret ingredients or favourite kitchen gadget. These included Fern Mansfield, a Head Chef within Levy UK+I suggesting that soy sauce is her secret ingredient and explaining that she loves to pack her dishes full of veg, while Leanne Turk, Development Chef for Chartwells Independent, said every kitchen should have a sharpie pen, to help with handovers, labels and writing inspiring messages to colleagues.

Alongside this, the “Polished Plates” competition has encouraged all colleagues to share their best dishes, with a winner being decided by an esteemed Compass judging panel. On Wednesday, some of the apprentices from UK&I chatted via video call with apprentices from the Australian business, to discuss best practice and ideas.

People from across the Compass business have been sharing their thanks and praise for Chefs and frontline colleagues, who work tirelessly to create outstanding culinary experiences day in, day out.

Robin Mills, Managing Director, Compass Group UK & Ireland commented:It’s that important time of year when we have the opportunity to celebrate our talented chefs and their teams for their dedication, creativity and passion to nourish and connect us, through thoughtfully prepared, fabulous food, meal after meal. They work hard and together with their teams, create the rhythm necessary for successful kitchens that are the engine rooms at the very heart of our business. I would like to take this opportunity to say a personal thank you.

Gemma Evans-Hurley, Culinary Lead of Projects, Compass Group UK&I and Chair of Women in Food agreed: I love being a chef and I love working with other talented chefs, especially across Compass. This week has been an opportunity to celebrate the unique skills and work ethic that our chefs possess, through passion and commitment. I am proud of them all and it’s been a great week to reflect and enjoy the recognition!

In 2013, Donald and Lisa Crutch of the National Pink Tie Organization “Chefs Against Cancer” division, co-founded Chef Appreciation Week to honour and recognise all those serving in the culinary industry for their dedication, love of food and willingness to serve their community.

In 2018, Compass Group USA partnered with the Crutch family to celebrate Chef Appreciation Week in its cafes and restaurants nationally. When Donald Crutch passed away unexpectedly in 2019, Compass Group pledged to carry on his legacy with a commitment to launch a worldwide Chef Appreciation Week campaign, which is now celebrated across 30+ nations globally.