Question:

Are you able to ask the industry where we can purchase Keating griddles from in the UK, please?

Replies:

1. Quite a few members have suggested Jestic and our member who made the enquiry has said:‘Jestic have advised that they no longer supply these and suggested we contact Euro Catering however, they have said that they do not supply these either.’
2. A member has said ‘It may be worth checking with Parts Town as they were stocking parts, they may be able to direct you.’

Question:

We’re looking for a candy floss maker to go on a dessert trolley and wondered if you could ask the question to the wider community? We’ve never had to purchase one before so we’re unsure of who to go to.

Replies:

1. Suggest: Gold Medal Commercial Candy Floss Machines Accessories (popcornandcandyfloss.com)
2. I’m sure J M Posner used to stock them, can’t see them on the website currently though.
3. There will be many budget versions from uncommon websites so for something more robust with safer warranty and after care Nisbets would be best in my opinion.
4. Suggest: A1 Equipment Candy Floss Machine P3 – HT413 – Nisbets or Gold Medal Tornado Candy Floss Machine SX – HT423 – Nisbets
5. Grey Simmonds Catering Equipment are happy to quote – Commercial Kitchen design and installation for London & the UK | GS Foodservice Equipment

Question:

We are looking for companies that do greasepak services etc – it would be to cover our customers in Dorset & Hampshire mainly.

Replies:

1. ‘Catering Equipment Support Ltd’ have said they can cover these areas and help. Tel: 02380 006082 Email: emily@cateringequipmentsupport.co.uk – Emily Barnes
2. Try these guys: Aqua Mundus The Grease Trap Specialists – Cam Feast  |  Business Development Manager – Direct  07483382385  |  Office  08456 440630
3. Aqua Mundus do a lot of the servicing for most grease traps etc. so make contact with them.
4. Contact ‘Mechline Developments Ltd’ – they will know of a company in those areas? https://www.mechline.com/
5. Ignite Catering Engineers cover the north & north east of Scotland if that helps. Contact Stephen Murray – stephen@ignite-service.co.uk

Question:

My client is after some Glycol powered bottle coolers, 3 door, we are aware that there are some made in the Netherlands, however I’m struggling to find anyone in the UK who does these.

Replies:

1. You could give these guys a call they may be able to help – Home – Glycol Cooling Systems 

Question:

I would like to ask other group members, their opinion on FM companies who request personal data / competencies on engineers who may attend their locations.   In my opinion this data remains protected, competencies show full name, NI, address etc, in short GDPR protected in addition to being business sensitive.

As a responsible business we pay a large premium to be externally audited by SSIP, plus affiliation to the regulation boards such as gas safe, it is understandable that engineers have to prove their ID when on site, but in terms of providing FM companies with a training matrix and personal competencies, does anyone else submit this?  Is there a process or request that can be supplied to request the security process of the data requestor?

I maybe overprotective, however a few years ago a number of our engineers where approached directly after such a data submission.

Replies:

1. I’m in agreement on that one. I’d like to ban LinkedIn also, apart from a useful business tool at times, it’s a seedy platform at times in terms of poaching staff and more.
2. This type of request is commonplace for ourselves, but I do understand the concern this member has
3. Fortunately, none of our engineers have been approached on the back of this breach but would be interested in what the outcome may be?
4. My background is FM and usually customers will request confirmation of competencies including gas cards if FM providers are subcontracting work and also all contractors have a duty of care under CDM 2015 to ensure that all subcontractors have the correct skills knowledge and experience to carry out the works. This is usually the reason for the request.
5. I suppose a fair question back to our ceda colleague would be are you happy for someone to work on your premises or on behalf of you at one of your client’s premises without seeing evidence that they’re qualified to do so? The FM world is the embodiment of box ticking.
6. I’ve never experienced engineers being approached in this manner so I can only really comment on the cause of the concerns however in my experience I’d say that this is perfectly normal especially if it’s the first time of working on this client’s sites.
7. For peace of mind, you could always ask the FM company for a copy of their GDPR policy.
8. We refuse to supply for precisely that reason. They have their gas safe and their ceda cards for ID purposes and we supply DBS but no other information unless it is an MOD or prison site.
9. I always refuse to give engineers details for the very same reason.  I would just send a training matrix with just Name and qualifications held.

Question:

I have a client looking for options for commercial induction Wok Ranges. These will generally be 3 to 6 pan ranges. I have been advised that Middleby manufacture one, but can’t find any info at all!
Can the ceda membership help?

Replies:

1. Far east in London – http://www.fareastgroup.co.uk/contact.htm
2. MCS Cooktek do various models
3. Tell them to contact Jack Robson at Middleby, if they do it he will know. His mobile is 07785 925 148
4. I can suggest the following company, based in Bristol: ACK Manufacturing Ltd. Tel: 01761 453666 Email: sales@ack-wokcookers.com
5. ceda Member ‘Grey Simmonds Food Service Equipment Limited’ have said they can supply these. Please contact Oliver Hardwicke via hardwicke@greysimmonds.co.uk
   Website: Commercial Kitchen design and installation for London & the UK | GS Foodservice Equipment
6. These are based in Bristol https://ack-wokcookers.com/products-systems/wok-cookers/gas-wok-cooker-range/heavy-duty-wok-cooker-range/

Question:

We are currently delivering a high-end kitchen in a domestic setting. They have requested 2 x LG American-style fridge freezers. They want the specific LG model (no alternatives). Are any members aware of suppliers that can provide LG domestic fridges?

Replies:

1. Currys AO Marks Electrical or LG.com https://www.lg.com/uk/fridge-freezers/american-style-fridge-freezers/gsxv80pzle1/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH50Z0i23nWoE1rBdl4JqmfN_xsiFxRXxzUrec0g4s7nVHVu76YxgEJgaAkgNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
2. You will get one from AO, delivered and installed.
3. Google is his friend, if domestic appliances are required then AO are the ones, they have a business section too where he/she can log in onlinehttps://ao.com/l/american_fridge_freezers-lg/1-6/26-27/?sort=-numbersold&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH53T50U0cP0WuOu5ToITZpoARsLS8bVF4R7sOnvz64tprdF11Rr8RKIaAoO8EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8149!3!683620259928!e!!g!!lg%20american%20fridge%20freezer&&utm_medium=search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=bt%20exact%20-%20american%20fridge%20freezer%7Cbt%20exact%20-%20lg%20american%20fridge%20freezer&utm_term=brand%7Cexact&utm_content=kwd-19944246366&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH53T50U0cP0WuOu5ToITZpoARsLS8bVF4R7sOnvz64tprdF11Rr8RKIaAoO8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
4. I’ve used Appliance Direct before without any issues https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/
5. Regarding domestic appliances, we have a business account with AO, which might be beneficial to your member. While the discount isn’t substantial, it proves helpful for customers who need to purchase domestic items but aren’t allowed to shop online.
6. When we have been obliged to provide domestic items, we have purchased through John Lewis who have a robust warranty.

Question:

We are looking for a supplier of freestanding water dispensers, cold and ambient.

Replies:

1. Borg & Overstrom manufacture and supply water dispensers https://www.borgandoverstrom.com/en/models/model-comparison/
2. Check out https://www.edensprings.co.uk/
3. ceda member ‘Scobie Maintenance Ltd’ say that they supply and install these products all over the UK.  The contact is: John Ward – National Account Manager. Direct: 07918690275 / Service Desk : +44 (0) 333 0151 270

Question:

We have a client asking for our engagement in WRRS; Work Related Road Safety and/or accreditation to FOR’s, this is not typically a requirement within our scope of works, as such may I ask any members how they have addressed this topic when it has occurred?

Replies:

1. This has come across our desk before, if for a new client and or series of projects it may be consideration to have own drivers and vehicle put through training and upgrades to achieve FORS status. There are different levels and annual costs involved. If on other hand it’s a singular project that won’t likely come up again there are third party hauliers with the qualification who can undergo the final leg of the journey for deliveries etc onto site to comply. We googled and there are a few that come up, just then about finding one that suits location and costs.

2.We have just gained FORS accreditation and is becoming a normal requirement for local authority tenders. We signed up to FORS which is very complicated and thorough. However, passed first time with strong evidence.

Question:

We are considering issuing our engineers with hoodies rather than the jackets they have had for years. Have any other companies issued hoodies to their engineers? And if so, do they have anything in place in regard to the hood and cords being a snag hazard? For example, working on mixers etc? I’m sure someone somewhere will have a risk assessment for hood laces.

Replies:

1. They could always take the cord out – or shorten them!

2. I have worked in H&S for over 25yrs. Previously I worked in the printing industry, this involved working close to moving parts including rollers/chains/conveyers etc that were in movement when working on.
Dangling items of any kind can pull you into a machine if parts are moving. No loose clothing, chains around necks or other dangling items were permitted on safety grounds and the staff understood why.
If the Engineers will be anywhere near moving parts within machines, then for me this is 100% not a good idea. Also consider that many Engineers are lone working and cannot rely on others working nearby to help then turn off the machine in a timely manner.
It would only take one incident, near miss etc to happen and immediately this would have been deemed a very bad idea, and one incident is one too many.

3. All our field guys and office staff all wear hoodies, and to be honest the issue has never come up, especially in the scenario mentioned. A couple of our guys simply pulled the laces out of theirs as they irritated them which wasn’t a problem.

4. I have an engineer who will only wear a hoodie, but it has no ties and is always pulled down when on site as I am a bit against them looks-wise.
As with a jacket you would more often than not remove a garment before working on equipment.

5. It was once raised by engineers here as a consideration to upgrading our workwear/PPE. Usually more popular by the slightly younger demographic. We gave it some thought and fell just shy of producing any risk assessment, snag hazards on mixers, conveyors and even certain motors were discussed.
In the end we felt hoodies were not the image our company wanted to portray for looking professional on some of our more corporate sites.

6. We have hoodies; however, we have removed the strings.

7. We have the same issue; I have stopped buying them but now the engineers are complaining that they don’t like jumpers!  Would be interested if someone has a risk assessment, failing that take the hood cord out!