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Where do you rank against the best? Five reasons to enter the Foodservice Cateys
The impact of winning a Foodservice Catey can elevate a company or a team to industry superstar status – here’s why you should enter
The Caterer’s Foodservice Cateys, now in their fourteenth year, shine a spotlight on the most innovative and impactful individuals and businesses in the foodservice sector.
Winners exemplify the very best of foodservice today. Whether they are driving measurable improvements in customer outcomes, building a people-first culture that prioritises development and wellbeing or shaping wider industry standards, their impact is felt at every level.
We spoke to five of last year’s winners to ask them what winning meant to them and how winning the award has elevated their businesses or personal reputation.
With such a prestigious accolade up for grabs, don’t hesitate to nominate yourself or a colleague for a Foodservice Catey.
Measure yourself against a benchmark in foodservice
Judges have described the Foodservice Cateys as being “filled with unbelievable talent and entrepreneurial spirit”, and praised the high “quality and quantity” of both the businesses and their submissions. The strength of competition demonstrates that the awards offer entrants the opportunity to benchmark their impact, quality and innovation against industry leaders.
Ben Tobin-Paris, deputy managing director at Moving Venue, which won Event Caterer of the Year, said the business entered because “we wanted to see how we stacked up against the very best. The Cateys are the benchmark in foodservice, so entering felt like a natural step to validate what we’ve built”.
Gain powerful industry recognition
Being recognised by peers and shortlisted by expert judges carries real weight, positioning individuals and businesses as a trusted, credible leaders in the sector.
This sentiment was echoed by James Pate, who won Salesperson of the Year and described the experience as “truly overwhelming”. Meanwhile, Claire Huish, winner of the People and Training Award, said being “recognised by my peers within the hospitality industry” meant “a great deal” as it reflected the hard work and commitment invested in strengthening Bennett Hay’s people culture.
Celebrate and motivate your team
“Our teams are at the heart of everything we do, and entering the awards was a way of recognising their hard work on a national stage,” said Tim Axe, managing director at Genuine Dining, which won Business and Industry Caterer of the Year. He added that the “recognition has given the team a real sense of pride and validation, which has had a noticeable impact on morale”.
Like Axe, many previous winners have observed that winning has helped boost team morale by giving recognition to the people behind business success. The impact can be long-lasting, not only commercially, but culturally too.
Showcase the difference you make
From driving change within communities to delivering meaningful social impact, a Foodservice Catey win highlights the influence and value of the work beyond the everyday running of the business.
Last year’s Healthcare Caterer of the Year, Caterplus, said the award recognised the business for “making a real difference to the lives of our customers every day”. Meanwhile, Phil Shelley, who received the Outstanding Contribution Award, said he hoped his recognition would “inspire and elevate” food and drink improvement, not only within the NHS, but across the wider public sector.
Elevate your profile
Shelley described a Foodservice Catey as “the pinnacle” of the industry, and winning one can help raise profiles, strengthen reputations and open doors to new business, partnerships and talent.
Similarly, Axe said the award not only raised the contract caterer’s profile, but also enabled it to contribute to wider conversations about standards within the industry, setting the business as an example of excellence.
Feeling inspired? Enter the Foodservice Cateys and join the ranks of the very best in the industry
The Foodservice Cateys take place on 9 October at the Royal Lancaster, London. Guests will discover the winners on the night and sit down to a three-course dinner with paired wines. Book your table for night to guarantee a spot in front of the stage.
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