Top 10 Tips – Catering
Supplied by: Jasper’s Corporate Catering
Things you should know about your caterer…
1.
Priorities – Our priority is always our customers and, as we are the catering specialists, we feel that it
is important to keep you up to date with laws, guidelines and systems. Any caterer of quality should
ensure these are part of their business so that you, the customer, receives the food and the service
you deserve.
2.
Safer food, better business – In January 2006, the Food Standards Agency introduced a
management pack entitled ‘Safer food, better business’ to ensure that all catering businesses comply
with regulations for best practice. The management pack essentially keeps catering companies up to
date with new legislation and ensures that staff training is implemented and recorded and, most
importantly, ensures that procedures for safe food production are kept to.
3.
Registered premises – Any good catering company would approach the local authority before setting
up their operation (Jasper’s does this with every new site it opens). It is now a legal requirement to
register your catering operation premises. This allows the local authority to inspect the registered
premises, record a history of inspections and advise and assist the operation, giving the customer
confidence.
4.
Delivery – The delivery of products is an important part of being a caterer. Jasper’s uses its own
registered refridgerated vehicles, which are open to inspections from the local authority. Its vehicles
are cleaned and sanitized regularly. Some caterers use normal cars or even taxis! Running registered
vehicles can be expensive, but it is essential in ensuring a good quality food service.
5.
Training – The most important element of ensuring safe food production is the production team. If the
team is not well trained, the customer is at risk. At Jasper’s, a full-day induction is provided before
team members even approach the kitchen and they must be trained in or hold a Basic Food Hygiene