Yearly Archives: 2010

La Trompette’s sommelier to represent UK in European competition

Matthieu Longuere, MS, head sommelier at London’s La Trompette, has been chosen to represent the UK in the European Sommelier’s competition, the Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Europe 2010, in Strasbourg in November. Matthieu, 38, beat James Payne of the Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant in Perthshire, and the current UK Sommelier of the Year Christopher […]

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Academy seeks industry’s front-of-house stars

The Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) is seeking nominations from employers and staff in the industry for its front-of-house Annual Awards Excellence, being held at London’s Innholder’s Hall on 22 October 2010. The awards, which have been held by the Academy since 1988, celebrate and reward inspiring people and organisations whose hard work […]

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Trading firm in London’s boutique hotels as consumers opt for a more memorable experience

The UK’s growing number of boutique hotels, with their quirky, design-led interiors and individually styled luxury rooms, have helped put the prestige back into Britain’s hotels by giving guests a more memorable experience than a standard room in a large chain.

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Horizons: Nando’s bid evidence of market consolidation

Following the news that Nando’s has made a bid approach for Clapham House, Peter Backman of foodservice consultancy Horizons has issued the following comment:

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Hotel TerraVina wins Gastronomy Team of the Year

Sommelier Laurent Richet and sous chef Neil Cooper from Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire have won the Academy of Food & Wine’s 2010 Gastronomy Team of the Year after an exciting ‘cook & serve’ final at London’s Westminster Kingsway College yesterday.

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Public sector contracts could become unviable, says Horizons

Peter Backman, managing director of foodservice consultant Horizons, has made the following comment following the news that the government is to meet with its main suppliers to discuss ways of cutting the cost of their service contracts. “The announcement today that the coalition Government is calling in its main suppliers to look at ways of […]

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Host restructuring puts focus firmly on growth

Host, the national, independent contract catering group based in Liss, Hampshire, has announced a restructuring of its senior management team which sees the sales and operations functions split, giving both disciplines dedicated teams. Host’s sales division will now be run by sales director Alan Aitken, with operations handled by operations director Deborah Homshaw. Simona Oproiu […]

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Technology helps Host retain £1.75m contract

National contract catering group Host has this week announced the retention of its Sanctuary Care procurement contract following an EU tender process. The three-year contract, worth some £1.75m per year in food costs, services 50 plus care homes throughout the UK and a conference centre through Host’s in-house supply management system Caternet.

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Budget: the impact on foodservice

Regarding the impact the Budget will have on the UK’s foodservice sector, Horizon’s Peter Backman says: “The measures taken by the Government in this week’s budget means that consumers are likely to have less money in their pockets to spend on eating out and are going to be more cautious about how they spend money […]

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Gastronomy Team of the Year finalists revealed

The Academy of Food & Wine has named the five teams through to the final of the 2010 Gastronomy Team of the Year, held in association with Discover the Origin. The teams have each won their regional heat and will now compete in a ‘cook & serve’ final on 19 July at Westminster Kingsway College, […]

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