Rational UK has announced the launch of Rational TV, a new free to register video on-demand platform. It offers a comprehensive choice of videos bringing knowledge and inspiration to the hospitality and catering industry. The new digital venture launches on 27 June, 2023.

Viewers have access to an exciting array of content with new videos added on a frequent basis. From customer stories, application training, through to hot topic webinars that showcase the benefits of the Rational iVario and iCombi Pro cooking systems. 

“Rational’s ethos to deliver maximum customer benefit, continues to give rise to innovative new services and products. The way customers seek and receive information has dramatically changed and in recognition of this, we were first to market with online webinars. Rational TV, another first, provides viewers the freedom to be inspired at their convenience”. says Adam Knights, Marketing Director, Rational UK.

To join Rational TV, subscribe for free at: www.rational-online.tv 

We’re pleased to announce ceda’s new Vice Chair; Paul Neville, MD of CHR Equipment Ltd.

At the ceda AGM, on Thursday 8th June 2023, Paul was duly ratified by the ceda Board and will now work alongside ceda Chair, Kirstin Hatherley, and support her in her role.

Commenting on Paul’s appointment, Kirstin said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Paul Neville as my Vice Chair. Paul has demonstrated significant commitment to ceda as a long-standing Member, Regional Chair and 4 years to-date on the Board. I look forward to working with him to further develop ceda.”

Paul himself is delighted with his new role and is keen to get started. He said, “Personally, it’s an incredible honour for me to take on the role as Vice Chair for ceda. I’m excited and looking forward to supporting Kirstin as Chair and the wider ceda family.”

Through Paul’s leadership and dedication, CHR Equipment Ltd have been an active and engaged ceda Member for many years. Paul has sat on many Committees and Groups for ceda, mainly around energy efficiency and sustainability; a subject he and CHR are passionate about. Paul has also been ceda’s Northern Regional Chair for the past 3 years.

Paul continues, “I’ve been in the family business for 30 years. In the last 15 years I have spent a lot of time innovating and delivering sustainable kitchens, driving the designs for the full electrification of the commercial kitchen, using energy optimisation and data from metering and via the connected kitchens, to help clients understand both its running cost and their carbon footprint. As the pace for the digital commercial kitchens and buildings continues to increase, I hope to use my experience here to benefit the ceda Membership, and in turn their clients, in reaching their own net zero targets.”

We’re delighted to have Paul as ceda Vice Chair!

Commercial Catering Products Ltd (a ceda Silver Partner) and Mychef are delighted to announce that all of the products from the Mychef catalogue are now live on AutoQuotes (a ceda Associate Member).

CCP Ltd continue on track to bring Mychef fully to the UK market, with completed engineer training and a number of “Cook-lives” already having taken place at First Choice (Parts Town).

Rob Gibson from CCP Ltd, who are the Master Distributor for Mychef in the UK, said “We are delighted with the response we have received from the industry to the innovative products from Mychef and the traction it is starting to receive. We knew that to bring Mychef fully to the UK market that we had to get all of the structures in place with Keith Elkington Transport as our logistics partner, First Choice holding spares, MCFT as our warranty partner and now the last piece of the jigsaw, live on AQ.”

Mychef is a leading European Manufacturer of Combination Ovens, Accelerated Cooking, Vacuum Packaging Machines and Convection Ovens. 7% of revenue is invested pack in R&D, with 9 registered patents and 14 design awards.

For more information contact:
Rob Gibson
Director
Commercial Catering Products Ltd
07398 885224
rob.gibson@commercialcateringproducts.co.uk
www.commercialcateringproducts.co.uk

Ki-Tech (a ceda Emerging Technology Partner), leading the industry in energy optimisation and data connectivity for commercial kitchens, is embracing the digital shift in kitchen management with a new look, new approach and new combined offering for catering and hospitality.

Paving the way for Kitchen 4.0, Ki-Tech has combined its services for the first time under one single banner, ‘We Are Ki-Tech’. It brings together Ki-Tech Solutions (energy optimisation and remote monitoring) and Ki-Tech Innovations (energy monitoring, management and data connectivity services), to give clients a complete solution for connected, optimised kitchens as the industry tackles rising energy costs and continues to target Net Zero.

Richard Fordham, director at Ki-Tech, said: “Today’s caterers face the perfect storm of rising energy costs and greater pressure to achieve sustainability goals. We’ve all seen the damaging effect this has had on many businesses, but digitalisation in the professional kitchen can help mitigate the impact and create opportunities.

“Our energy optimisation reduces the required kitchen load, which can prevent the need for electrical upgrades and improve the economic viability of new kitchen projects whilst our connectivity services provide the insights needed to make more informed decisions about energy use, with real-time monitoring providing accurate data on where and when energy is being used in the kitchen and beyond.

“Together, these services give operators the tools they need to improve efficiency and optimise energy use – giving the potential to save significant energy costs across large portfolios, reduce peak electrical load and help achieve ambitious targets for carbon reduction.

“It’s still an untapped opportunity and we’re not limited to the kitchen environment, with the chance to connect laundry, HVAC, spa facilities and more for complete visibility of energy management.”

www.wearekitech.co.uk

With rising energy costs and greater regulatory pressure, sustainability tops the agenda for operators in all sectors. Now MKN, a ceda Platinum Partner, is showcasing its support for dealers and end users with a new sustainability report.

Download now – discover technologies to save costs reduce environmental impact www.mkn.com/en/sustainability

‘Make a Lasting Impact for a Better World of Cooking’ has been prepared by experts at MKN to give you a handy guide sustainability in cooking equipment.

It sets out our commitment to sustainable performance across our products, operations and supply chain, including:

• – How we focus on longevity and innovation to help save resources, reduce CO₂ emissions, and avoid waste in catering sectors
• – Details of key products and technologies including the FlexiChef multi-functional cooking appliance, FlexiCombi and SpaceCombi combi steamers, plus modular and individual ranges
• – ensure an ethical and responsible approach
• – Practical recommendations on how to save energy in the kitchen

Do you need inspiration to enhance your sustainability commitment? Don’t delay, download our guide today from www.mkn.com/en/sustainability

The winners of the 2023 ceda Grand Prix Awards were announced last night (Thursday 8th June 2023) at a gala dinner at St George’s Park, which brought to a close this year’s ceda Conference.

Winners from six project categories were announced, along with the Overall Winner, the Rising Star and the ceda Supplier of the Year.

The ceda Grand Prix Awards celebrate the exceptional design, project management, installation and customer service carried out by member companies during 2022.

This year, our new Awards judges, Nick Howe and Iain Munro, have introduced the ‘Judges Commendation’ for those Projects that do not win the category but nevertheless they deem them to be exceptional entries, amongst the outstanding shortlists.

Well done to all the 2023 winners!

Design Project Under £100k

Cook For Good by C&C Catering Equipment Ltd

Outstanding Customer Service

JOINT WINNERS!

Whitbread – Chargrill rollout by Space Group

View project brief and images here

AND

Wembley Stadium, Delaware North by Gratte Brothers Catering Equipment Limited

View project brief and images here

Project Management Excellence

House of Koko by C&C Catering Equipment Ltd

View project brief and images here

Rising Star

Justin Ring of Gratte Brothers Catering Equipment Ltd

Supplier of the Year

Maidaid Halcyon Ltd

We’re pleased to announce a new appointment to the ceda Board.

On the 8th June 2023, Natasha Baker of Gratte Brothers Catering Equipment Ltd, was duly ratified in by the ceda Board and is now a ceda Director.

Commenting on Natasha’s appointment, ceda Chair, Kirstin Hatherley said, “I would like to welcome Natasha on board. I believe that she will add value to our association and the wider industry and I hope that she will find her time with ceda a rewarding experience.”

Natasha herself is delighted with her new role and is keen to get started. She said, “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as a Director of ceda.  I had no idea back in 1996, when I joined Gratte Brothers Catering Equipment, how ingrained the world of commercial catering equipment would become, it is therefore an incredible honour to now be able to bring my years of experience into the wider industry.  Thank you to Kirstin, Adam and the Board of Directors for affording me this opportunity.”

Natasha joined Gratte Brothers Equipment Limited in 1996 as a Projects Administrator. Her background in Project Coordination allowed her deal with many different stakeholders from the supply chain through to the end user. She was promoted to Business Support Manager in 2017, was soon elevated to Head of Operations and then to her current position as Service & Operations Director.

Natasha continues, “I am very passionate about this industry, which is enhanced by the people within it sharing the same passion and drive for delivering the exceptional customer experience that is expected by the end user. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I can make a difference to our team, the industry and the customer.

“Being a part of the ceda Board is the icing on the cake, giving further opportunities to be effective by bringing my many years of knowledge to the table. Gratte Brothers have been a member of ceda for 35 years with several of my predecessors being actively involved, I therefore feel incredibly honoured and grateful to be afforded this opportunity.”

We’re delighted to have Natasha as part of the Board!

Opinion piece: Chris Mansell, Product Manager, Warewashing, Hobart UK

“In October 2023, the hospitality industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be met with a huge legislation change around the supply of single-use plastics, with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) pledging to make good on a January 2023 commitment to ban the sale of single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.

“While this is an overwhelmingly positive move, bringing the rest of the UK in line with Scotland and several EU countries where such legislation already exists, at the time of writing (Summer 2023) the government has yet to provide any further guidance or cast-iron details on what will or won’t be outlawed, creating unnecessary confusion around an incredibly important issue.

“We know from our constant dialogue with the industry that operators are at differing states of preparedness and, given the unprecedented challenges the industry has faced over the last three years, it’s little wonder.

“Many are still in recovery mode from the pandemic, trying to recoup the estimated £115 billion worth of sales lost versus expected revenue in 2020 and 2021.* Having navigated their way through that crisis, businesses have had little-to-no breathing space, instead hit with spiralling energy costs, the cost-of-living crisis, and staffing worries – all of which have wreaked devastation in their own way – undermining consumer confidence and further reducing already tight margins.

“Given the number of fires operators are already having to fight, it’s hardly surprising that a somewhat vague legislation change as far off as October, has been less of a priority in their minds.

“That said, addressing the issue now and researching the impact it may have on their business, could save countless hours come the autumn, when last-minute purchases in the rush to become compliant, could lead them to seek to less commercially-viable decisions.

“In a larger context, considering a business’s relationship with single-use plastics now, and acting sooner rather than later to make improvements, could also have a positive impact on how it is perceived by customers and the wider world.

“The public is undoubtedly becoming more savvy when it comes to sustainability, with the conscious consumerism trend only expected to proliferate in 2023 and beyond. In the profit sector, younger generations in particular have been altering their spending habits, demanding more transparency from hospitality venues to prove their sustainability credentials, before choosing where to spend their hard-earned cash. Cost-sector sites are also under pressure to meet targets, with recent policy stipulating the need to work with reusable items wherever possible.*

“And with innovation in the industry absolutely thriving, the latest solutions available to the sector to help operators become less reliant on single-use plastics – embracing instead the much-vaunted circular economy – can help to ease the transition and even allow sites to profit in the process.

“As a market leader with a real commitment to sustainable issues and a global reach into territories where single-use plastics have either been eradicated or their usage severely curtailed, Hobart’s expert teams have been able to get at least two years ahead of the UK market. Our range of reusable washing solutions – including ground-breaking HYLINE Rinse Aid, bespoke racking systems and range of innovative drying solutions  – have been designed around the core guiding principles of simplicity and performance to help remove the headache of the move away from single-use plastics, however it looks come October.

“Talk to us today to see how Hobart can help you get ahead with the transition to reusables and save you money in the process. In the face of Government inertia, it could be one of the most sensible business decisions you make this year.”

To find out more, visit www.hobartuk.com/reusables

* https://www.ukhospitality.org.uk/news/596042/Two-years-of-Covid-does-115bn-damage-to-hospitality-industry-.htm

* https://consult.defra.gov.uk/public-sector-food-procurement/food-and-catering-consultation/supporting_documents/Proposed%20public%20sector%20food%20and%20catering%20policy%20for%20England%201.pdf

Rehan Uddin demonstrates Asian Cuisine with a digital twist!

The founder the Asian Restaurant Owners Network (ARON), and chef patron of Indi-Yang, Torquay Rehan Uddin in partnership with Rational is presenting at two separate events. Taking place on 12 June, at First Choice, Cannock.

The first event of the day, the Rational Expert Chef Asian Academy, Rehan will demonstrate how the intelligent applications of the intelligent Rational iCombi Pro combi-steamer can turn into a digital tandoori oven and also prepare charred and non-charred dishes. The Academy is designed for existing users of Rational combi-steamers to get the most out of their appliance.

During the event participants will learn about the intelligent appliance‘s settings, how they can deliver speed, flexibility and energy savings, whilst maintaining excellent and consistent results.

The Expert Chef Asian Academy commences at 10.00, register at: https://www.rational-online.com/en_gb/lp/expert-chef-academy/

During the afternoon event, the Rational iVario Pro Expert Chef Cook Live, Rehan will demonstrate Asian cuisine at it’s best. He will prepare high volume food in the iVario Pro a technologically advanced bratt pan, demonstrating how onion gravy, bulk curry and masala sauces can be prepared with ease and flexibility. Rehan will also show how the intelligent iVario cooking system can also help to reduce energy, save on labour, make cost savings and increase business profits.

The Rational iVario Pro Asian Cook Live event commences at 13.30 register at: https://www.rational-online.com/en_gb/lp/expert-chef-asian-cook-live/

These exclusive free events will have a Q&A session, and take place at First Choice Catering Spares Ltd, Lakeside Cannock, WS11 8LD. Space is limited, therefore it is highly recommended to register attendance early.