Sponsors' Profiles

The Award for Excellence in Hospitality Education

co-sponsored by MCL & Tods Murray LLP

AV solutions for all events

MCL are one of Europe’s leading audio-visual companies, with offices in six locations throughout the UK.

Having provided services for HIT Scotland’s Emerging Talent conferences, ScotHot at the SECC and many other high profile events including the Scottish Labour Party Conference, MCL have ‘first-hand experience of the huge strides forward that Scotland has taken in the event-management arena,’ says Dave Menzies, Business Development Director.

With the resources and support of a large parent company behind them, MCL provides the definitive list of services to event managers and planners throughout Scotland and the UK.

www.mclav.com

Tods Murray is a leading independent Scottish law firm, providing specialist advice to companies, institutions and organisations within the private and public sectors. Tods Murray’s Hospitality and Leisure team comprises an experienced group of lawyers who provide a depth of skill and experience to satisfy the legal requirements of any client in the sector. The firm undertakes an extensive variety of work, including acquisitions and disposals of hotels, restaurants, pubs and other leisure-related property, as well as looking after the corporate interests of bingo halls, garden centres, fitness clubs, publicans and some of the best hotels. Tods Murray regularly advises on the development of golf clubs, multiplex cinemas and tourism attractions, and is a UK leader in the specific area of Timeshare. The licensing team also provides practical help and advice in all matters relating to liquor licensing and gaming, and offers training to prospective licence-holders and their staff.

www.todsmurray.com

The Independent Hotel of the Year Award

sponsored by ARAMARK

The Market-Leader in Offshore & Further Education Training

Food and facilities management company ARAMARK is entering its seventh consecutive year of supporting the CIS Excellence Awards, and is sponsoring the newly launched Independent Hotel of the Year category. As the market-leading caterer of offshore and further education and university sectors, ARAMARK works in partnership with clients including Argos, AEGON UK, BP, ExxonMobil, Apache and RGIT.

‘These awards give well-deserved recognition to those in the Scottish catering, hospitality and tourism industries who have demonstrated innovation, creativity and outstanding results, and we are delighted to be involved with them for the seventh year in a row,’ says Graham Drew, Strategic Development Director of ARAMARK Scotland.

‘The new Independent Hotel of the Year category will recognise the very high standards of private and independent establishments in Scotland, and I am looking forward to joining the deserving winner on stage next May.’

www.aramark.co.uk

The Restaurant of the Year Award

Sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions

Delivering confidence in the kitchen

Unilever Foodsolutions is a specialist provider of food products and services for foodservice operators, with brands including Knorr, Hellmann’s, Scottish Blend and Lipton.

As well as providing winning products and services, Unilever Foodsolutions helps grow its customers’ businesses through an unrivalled combination of consumer insight, customer understanding and expert menu- and recipe-planning.

‘Unilever Foodsolutions has a strong heritage in Scotland and we are passionate about rewarding the exceptional skills within the industry,’ says Tracey Rogers, Managing Director of Unilever Foodsolutions. ‘We are thrilled to be joining up with Catering in Scotland and the Federation of Chefs Scotland to promote and celebrate Scottish excellence through sponsorship of the Restaurant of the Year Award.’

www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.uk

The Chef of the Year Award

Sponsored by BaxterStorey

Caring About Quality and Taste

With 370 clients and an annual turnover of £204m, BaxterStorey is the UK’s largest independently owned foodservice catering company. Operating and managing employee restaurants, café bars, deli operations and executive dining rooms for business and industry clients throughout the UK and Ireland, they offer bespoke products to encourage greater sales and improve customer satisfaction.

 ‘We live and breathe fresh food, quality ingredients, local supply, British produce and provenance,’ says Jeremy Wood, Regional Managing Director. ‘The key to our success is our commitment to clients, the quality of the people we employ and our focus on coaching and development. We know that in the business or work environment, it's not merely about eating - it's about working together, exchanging ideas, relaxing and creating a better environment.’

www.baxterstorey.com

The Lifetime Excellence Award

sponsored by Braehead Foods

Keeping your eye on the game

Braehead Foods Ltd is a leading purveyor of game and speciality foods, supplying high quality produce to chefs and restaurants throughout the UK and abroad.

Managing Director Craig Stevenson is proud of the company’s traceability system, which provides detailed information on all game and venison, literally from field to fork.

As well as being the sole distributor of Gressingham Duck in Scotland, Braehead carries a wide range of goods including flour, cooking wines, spices, fresh herbs, Belgian chocolate, cheese and poultry. And this year opened their demonstration and training kitchens at their new 35,000 sq ft factory.

‘Sponsoring the CIS Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award provides us with the chance to acknowledge our appreciation of the finest quality caterers in Scotland,’ says Craig. ‘I feel a duty to support the food industry and believe that it’s important for those who excel to be recognised for their hard work’ says Craig. ‘Braehead Foods, along with ARAMARK, have supported the awards since their inception, and I am proud to have been involved in promoting, recognising and rewarding excellence from the outset.’

www.braeheadfoods.co.uk

Sponsors Profiles - Page 1

Sponsors Profiles - Page 2