CH&Co Group unveils partnership with chef Mark Sargeant

CH&Co Group has announced an alliance with chef Mark Sargeant, in a move to support the foodservice company's commitment to ongoing food innovation and the development and motivation of its chefs and teams.

Sargeant, who runs Rocksalt and the Smokehouse in Folkestone, Plum and Spilt Milk at the Great Northern Hotel in Kings Cross, the Duke William in Ickham, Kent, and the Wife of Bath, a Spanish-themed tapas bar and restaurant with rooms in Wye, also in Kent, will support CH&Co Group across its portfolio of businesses, which operate in the business and industry, heritage, leisure, education and healthcare sectors.

Key areas and initiatives that will benefit from his expertise and industry knowledge include menu development, chef training in the CH&Co Group Chef Academy, team engagement and motivation through internal communication and events.

As a champion of nurturing talent, Sargeant, an ambassador for Young National Chef of the Year and a former winner of the title along with National Chef of the Year, will also be offering CH&Co Group chefs the opportunity to complete stages at his various establishments.

Bill Toner, CH&Co Group's chief executive, commented: "We're very excited about our partnership with Mark. Food is what we're all about and we're always looking for ways to mix things up and do great food a little differently. Mark is undeniably an incredibly talented chef who is enjoying a remarkable career.

"His experience, vision and style is a fantastic fit for the business. He will work well with our chefs at all levels, inspiring them to innovate and build on the excellent food they are already serving to our clients, and also to develop their careers. The great thing is that everyone wins from this partnership, from our chefs and teams through to our clients."

Sargeant added: "I'm really looking forward to working with CH&Co Group. It's a dynamic and growing business, which makes it a very interesting prospect. The thing that excites me most is how many different businesses there are in the group, all with their own challenges. I've always been a fan of diversity and this will make for lots of interesting work and keep me on my toes. Developing talent is something I'm passionate about, but I'm sure it won't be a one-way street and that I'll learn plenty from the teams too."

The news of the collaboration follows CH&Co Group's merger with Harbour & Jones this summer, bringing the turnover of the business to £265m. The newly formed company now provides catering at more than 700 sites across the UK and Ireland, and employs more than 6,000 people.

CH&Co Group and Harbour & Jones merge

CH&Co Group has won £58m in new and retained contracts so far in 2017