Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 6625

fatty's expansion

FATTY Arbuckles, the American diner chain, is opening three new outlets this month, and another later this year, bringing the total in the group to 13.

This month's first addition, the purpose-built Liverpool branch, seats 120 and is expected to produce turnover of ú1m in its first year.

Last week saw the opening of the Colchester branch, a 100-seat franchised outlet, and next week another franchised diner is to open in Oxford, with 78 seats.

A franchised branch in Darlaston, West Midlands, is planned to open later this year as part of a new leisure development, Bentley Mill Way by the M6 motorway. The development will also house Deep Pan Pizza Company and Bass Taverns outlets.

standard fees

QUALITY standard BS5750 was made more accessible to small businesses this week when the British Standards Institution launched a new service aimed at reducing its cost and complexity.

Now businesses with up to ten employees will be assessed in a single day at a reduced fee, while assessors will be trained to take account of their needs.

The cost of the initial assessment will be reduced from ú2,400 to ú990 for small businesses. The new service also includes a telephone helpline on (0908) 228008.

culinary gold

SCOTLAND's Culinary Olympic team won 23 medals last week in the World Culinary Olympics, held in Singapore. The highest achievement was to reach gold medal standard in the hot cooking competition.

However, they failed to make the final in the inter-nations championship, which was won by Switzerland, ahead of Germany and Singapore.