Over the last 18 years Kent Catering Service has gone from strength-to-strength. The Sheerness-based business installs, repairs and services commercial catering kitchen equipment. The business has built its reputation on providing outstanding customer service, especially for core-customers such as schools, colleges and nursing homes. Obviously speedy repair is essential to these organisations, as broken equipment can mean children or the elderly not being fed.
Tony Irwin, Director of Kent Catering Service discussed how the industry has changed over the last 18-years: “Much like most industries, there is now a huge pressure from internet sales companies. However, we have deliberately kept ourselves local, operating in the Kent area only. We have managed to fend off internet competition by going that bit further for our customers providing a full package including after-sales and preventative maintenance. Another challenge we have faced recently has been the split in some operations that has arisen due to external factors such as schools no longer under KCC management but under facilities management companies. The same is true in healthcare where some hospitals have been partly taken over by private companies. Retaining our customer base has been hard work, but we are proud that we have not lost customers due to this but have in fact gained more because of our reputation.”
This reputation seems to speak for itself, as Kent Catering Service now has 20 employees working for them, covering all of Kent. Mark Seager Compliance Manager commented: “Our staff are extremely important to us, and we invest in our staff and care for them like a family business. We provide our staff with continual in house and external training. We also have initiatives such as no sickness bonuses, birthdays off and private health cover.”
When asked why he felt his business deserved to be recognised at the 2017 Swale Business Awards, Tony replied “Our business stands out from our competitors due to our customer approach. We focus our business on the local Kent area allowing us to be responsive and proactive towards our customers needs. We invest in our staff through training allowing us to cover any requests. Despite the ever-changing market we are operating in, we have retained and grown our customer base through solid performance and word of mouth marketing.”
Kent Catering Service Ltd
Units 7-8
Dorset Road
Sheerness
ME12 1LT
01795 668 201
http://kentcateringservice.co.uk/