Catering consultants work with you to ensure your catering operations yield maximum value and minimum cost. They support you through the end-to-end tender process, answering queries, addressing company-specific requirements and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

 A good consultant will essentially project manage the process on your behalf, saving you time and undue hassle. If they're worth their salt (excuse the pun), they will be able provide you with previous clients and references. Their experience should span several industry sectors, operationally and at management level. 

Here are 5 reasons you need the support of a catering consultant,

1.    Knowledge and experience. Good consultants have typically accrued many years of experience across different sectors and organisations. This means they have a unique depth and breadth of expertise across operations, finance, legislation and senior management that ensures quick and sound decision-making. They talk your caterers language and will ensure you too are able to read and understand their statement and reports.

2.    End-to-end tendering support. Catering consultants are commonly hired to tender your catering services; public authorities – in particular the Education sector - need to comply with OJEU legislation for contracts exceeding approximately £181,000. This will include some primary and secondary schools, multi-academy trusts and universities. 

Other establishments may seek to tender their catering workplace cafes and restaurants to ensure best value purchasing for their board, trustees and/or shareholders. 

3.    Flawless food safety. Catering consultants provide impartial advice, guidance and operational support accrued from years of experience. This is required to respond to improvement orders imposed by the local Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or simply to assure you that your caterer is operating to the current legislative requirements and best practice.  

4.    Operational health checks. Consultants perform a detailed analysis of your catering operation to ensure it's operating efficiently and productively and crucially, meeting your specific objectives. This includes finances, health and safety, and employee satisfaction.

5. Maximise Value. Consultants often provide market appraisals specifying areas you can improve to yield greater return on your investment and exposing areas where you may be overpaying for your catering.