For the 50 Professional and Allied members attending, this was an opportunity to hear updates on FCSI UK & Ireland activities and enjoy an extensive tour of the foodservice facilities of the stadium – comprising one large central production kitchen, 32 satellite kitchens, serving 66 concession units and several standalone restaurants. It is an impressive set-up.
The tour took members from the private members H Club, enjoying perfect views of the stadium action, to a walk that took in highlights including the on-site brewery, a pie-making machine, capable of producing thousands of pies every day, past the impressive central bar measuring 66.5 metres and through the player areas to eventually end up pitch side.
A great day was enjoyed by all attendees who also were treated to a classic football lunch of hot dogs, pies and fish and chips.
Raising standards
FCSI UK & Ireland chair Matthew Merritt-Harrison FCSI (pictured) kicked off the afternoon with an update on activities from the UK.
He announced the intended formation of a new Professional Conduct and Business Ethics Committee for the unit. “As a society our purpose is to be the go-to place for clients,” said Merritt-Harrison. “So we need to be about ethics, honesty and professionalism.”
The new committee will be comprised of the UK & Ireland chair, two Professional members, one Allied member representative and one independent member from another professional body.
The scope of the panel will be quite simply to consider breaches of the FCSI code of conduct. This will include membership applications referred to it by the FCSI UK & Ireland executive where there is a current or historical issue in respect of professional conduct or business ethics; issues raised by members in respect of other members; and to consider any action by a member that may have brought FCSI UK & Ireland into disrepute.
The committee will have the power to investigate issues, suspend membership and ask a member to leave the society. “This is something that strengthens where we are as a society,” said Merritt-Harrison.
“We endeavour to raise standards in the industry, not diminish them.”
Merritt-Harrison also outlined plans to roll out a PR and marketing strategy for FCSI UK & Ireland for 2020 and beyond. These plans are intended to sit alongside an ambitious programme of educational and social events for the country unit that will take place for UK & Ireland members later this year.
Equipment support
The event was organised in partnership with Rational who was involved in the fitting out of the Tottenham Stadium. Graham Kille, sales director of Rational UK, outlined the scope of the project which saw 102 Rational units installed across the stadium – 84 Selfcooking Centers and 18 Vario Cooking Centers.
Rational started working with English football clubs many years ago when its first clients were Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Fulham. Today the company has equipment in every single one of the clubs in the Premier League.
Tottenham Stadium must rank among the most sophisticated football stadiums in the country with every detail thought through meticulously.
“Tottenham wanted the best stadium, catering equipment company KCCJ wanted to deliver the best design and Rational’s role was to support with equipment,” said Kille.
Tina Nielsen (pictured, with friends)
