CESA presents Eddie Moffat with his own personal copy of the company history
Last week Nick Oryino, chair of CESA, and Keith Warren, director of CESA, travelled to Bonnybridge, Scotland to present Eddie Moffat founder of E & R Moffat with a leather-bound copy of “The History of Moffat”.
Eddie Moffat has already received The Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award from Caterer and Hotelkeeper and CESA , and this presentation was a further recognition of just how much he has contributed to the catering industry.
“In these forward-looking times it is also important to remember where we came from,” says Nick Oryino. “Eddie built Moffat up from scratch to be a world class exporter, as well as a leading supplier in the domestic market.”
Those who read Eddie’s original memoirs, typed up on an old manual typewriter, realised what an important record and insight they were into the early years of the catering manufacturing industry, capturing the state of the market and industrial conditions of the time. CESA has combined these notes with Eddie’s photographs to produce a lasting record.
Leaving school in 1939, aged 14, Eddie began an apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker with Smith and Wellstood. He served as a telegraphist and air gunner in the Fleet Air Arm in WWII, but Eddie always wanted to start his own business, eventually setting up E&R Moffat in 1963 with help from his brother Reid (the ‘R’).
“Eddie was completely bowled over and completely lost for words when he received the book,” says Gary Allen, sales director at Moffat. “It is a testament to his total commitment to the industry and a wonderful memento of British manufacturing history.”
The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA)is the authoritative voice of the catering equipment industry, representing over 170 companies who supply, service and maintain all types of commercial catering equipment – from utensils to full kitchen schemes. For more information on CESA visit www.cesa.org.uk