Compass Group, a global leader in food and support services, is dedicating this week (8 to 14 September 2024) to Chef Appreciation Week, with a week-long celebration of its exceptional culinary talent.
Launched in 2013 and hosted by Compass Group globally, Chef Appreciation Week brings together the global food and hospitality industries to recognise the amazing efforts that talented chefs and culinary teams bring to the industry every single day, not just at Compass but around the world.
“Food first, passion always” is this year’s theme, encapsulating how being a chef goes beyond serving and preparing delicious food. As strategic business leaders, Compass Group’s culinary teams are unlocking opportunities and accelerating impact in key areas like sustainability, purchasing and talent attraction.
Deb Lee, Group Chief People Officer of Compass Group PLC, commented:
“I often say our chefs are magicians. They create magic in so many parts of our business. On sustainability they reduce food waste and source seasonally, they support communities by purchasing from diverse and local suppliers, they continuously learn and develop their craft, they create new possibilities for our business and inspire us all to aim ever higher.
During Chef Appreciation Week, please join me by saying thank you and celebrating the wonderful talents, expertise and achievements of our culinary teams around the world.”
Chef Einav Gefen, Senior Vice President Chef/Innovator - Restaurant Associates at Compass Group USA and member of the Compass Group Global Culinary Forum, added:
“Our culinary community is the heart of Compass. Put simply, we cannot serve delicious food without our chefs, we cannot meet our landmark sustainability goals without chefs, we cannot grow our business without chefs, and we cannot support local communities without chefs. That’s because we are food first, passion always.
With Compass there’s room to grow, develop and really make an impact. Whether your dream is to be executive chef and to master your trade, or do something completely different by moving into another function within our business, there’s opportunity to be whoever you want to be.”
Throughout the week, Compass leaders, clients, suppliers and colleagues will come together - across offices, schools, hospitals, defence sites, and sporting venues - to show their appreciation.
Join the celebration
Celebrating all the heroes behind the food - front of house and back of house colleagues, cashiers, sous chefs, baristas, chefs and hospitality leaders – Compass is convening the global food and hospitality sector to share appreciation and gratitude for all the ways that chefs bring their 'passion' to the food and people they serve.
- Visit ChefAppreciationWeek.com to learn more about the largest culinary celebration in the world and how you can get involved.
- Thank your favourite chef and/or culinary team in-person or on social media and remind them it’s Chef Appreciation Week.
- Follow the activity on social media using #ChefAppreciationWeek and #LoveMyChef.
Notes to Editors
In 2013, Donald and Lisa Crutch of the National Pink Tie Organization “Chefs Against Cancer” division, co-founded Chef Appreciation Week to honour and recognise all those serving in the culinary industry for their dedication, love of food and willingness to serve their community.
In 2018, Compass Group USA partnered with the Crutch family to celebrate Chef Appreciation Week in its cafes and restaurants nationally. When Donald Crutch passed away unexpectedly in 2019, Compass Group pledged to carry on his legacy with a commitment to launch a worldwide Chef Appreciation Week campaign, which is now celebrated across 30+ nations globally.
Learn more at chefappreciationweek.com
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