The CESA Conference 2016, in association with Cedabond, ENSE, and the FCSI UK & Ireland; 18 November, Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel
A pre-Conference straw poll told Evan Davis that delegates were ‘overwhelmingly optimistic’ about the economic future, despite Brexit and Trump. “Let’s see if we can beat that out of you,” he said. For him, the big post-referendum economic story was the slump in investment for growth – but what’s happening now may be bigger than Brexit: we may be seeing the end of globalization. Meanwhile, the prospect of trade tariffs means we will have to get more competitive. However, as London suffers, with its financial role moving to Europe, the economy may be rebalanced as Northern manufacturers flourish thanks to the weaker value of Sterling.
Former Conservative MEP and political advisor Malcom Harbour exhorted CESA and the whole foodservice industry to talk to government. If business is more forceful with its requirements for immigration, it will make it easier for Theresa May to cut a deal with Europe, even if it means upsetting the Brexiteers. For Oliver Bretz of Euclid Law, it’s not if we will trigger Article 50, it’s when, “But we can’t have a discussion until government tells us the alternatives.”
What end users say are their biggest problems, and what suppliers THINK are end users’ biggest problems, are quite different. “We need to be a hell of a lot better at listening to end users,” said Doug Fryett, consultant, presenting the ‘Mind The Gap Too’ research.
The ‘Sticking to the Specification’ panel agreed it’s not just about knowing what questions to ask operators, but also who to ask. The customer’s financial controller, specifier and equipment operator may each have different problems. “How many suppliers talk to the potwasher?” Andy Jones, former chair of the Hospital Caterers Association, wondered.
Technology is having a powerful impact on caterers – including BIM, which is gathering pace and is reducing the cost of builds, as well as helping manage buildings, both during and after construction.
After presentations on the new CESABIM and EFECMBIM databases, and the new CESA website, Matt Dawson’s entertaining keynote address gave real insight into teamwork. The conference curtain was brought down as Johnny Wilkinson’s drop goal won the 2003 World Cup once again.
Awards and Announcements:
Mick Shaddock, recently retired managing director of Victor Manufacturing and a former CESA chair, received the Outstanding Contribution to the Catering Industry Award.
Glenn Roberts CFSP took over as CESA chair from Simon Frost CFSP.
Winterhalter’s UC Excellence iPlus undercounter warewasher won the FCSI Sustainable Catering Equipment Award, judges calling it ‘a compact, integrated solution providing a direct water saving.’ Hubbard Systems was highly commended for the Scotsman Prodigy nugget ice machine, as was Foster Refrigerator for the +Stayclear condenser.
The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) is the authoritative voice of the catering equipment industry, representing over 180 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