The Catering Equipment Supplier's Association (CESA) has changed its structure in a move to better represent its membership and give it the flexibility to address the big issues, such as Brexit, training, education and connectivity.
The new structure will also allow CESA to develop programmes to work closely with the rest of the supply chain and with foodservice operators.
The new structure sees the creation of a series of committees focused on specific sectors of the catering equipment industry, from warewashing, refrigeration and cooking appliances to spare parts and ventilation. There are also new groups focused on cooperation with the supply chain, including dealers, consultants and wholesalers, and liaison with foodservice operators.
"The membership has grown significantly over the past few years," said Glenn Roberts, chair of CESA. "That's given us the critical mass to have committees comprising a representative number of companies in each sector of the market, which can address the current and anticipated concerns of individual product groups."
"The complexity of the challenges we face, from Brexit to connectivity to training, is unprecedented," added Roberts. "In many cases, they bring different issues for different product categories. The new structure gives us the opportunity to deal with the challenges both at the individual product level and strategically, via the plenary council and the CESA Board."
The changes were announced in advance of British business journalist and business editor for the BBC, Simon Jack, being announced as CESA's upcoming conference chair.
The annual conference due to take place at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park on 14 and 15 November will address a theme of ‘Evolving in a disruptive environment' and Jack will support the itinerary in reflecting troubled times as well as looking at ways that the foodservice industry can survive and thrive.
The Conference is run in association with Cedabond, ENSE and the FCSI with full details of the programme and speaker platform to be announced online shortly.
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