Industry-wide code of conduct on the way for contract caterers

Contract caterers are set to have an industry-wide code of conduct governing contract handovers in the New Year, after operators and consultants came together to agree a charter.

The Foodservice Consultants Society International has teamed up with operators to develop a new code of conduct, which should be ready for endorsement by early 2009.

The code, which aims to stamp out bad behaviour and boost professionalism, embraces many of the principles included in food service firm the Stern Consultancy's Code of Conduct Handover Charter.

The Stern Consultancy code was published in its fourth draft earlier this year and has been developed with the aid of contract caterers Bartlett Mitchell and Charlton House.

It covers the timings, communication, handling of staff transfers, equipment and stock at contract handover time. It also recommends the use of a formal handover checklist used and signed by both contractors.

The need for an industry wide code has grown out of a need to tackle occasional misbehaviour at handover time, where the company that has lost the deal may be uncooperative or even wilfully disruptive as a result.

For the latest live tenders visit our Tenders section on Caterersearch >>

Compass Group retains contract with Wellcome Trust >>

Caterers urged to adopt handover code >>

Contract catering code of conduct doesn't get support from everyone (Kitchen Rat) >>
Contract catering news round up >>

By Chris Druce

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs