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The winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award is one of catering’s enduring class acts. He is the epitome of what hospitality is all about, and his selfless passion and commitment to the industry is undeniable.

 

In a career that has spanned close to 40 years, Noel Mahony has risen from a chef and management trainee with Trusthouse Forte to positions at Gardner Merchant Leisure, Granada Food Services and Compass – where he oversaw Eurest and Sutcliffe Catering – before joining WSH (then known as Wilson Storey Halliday) in 2004.

 

That same year, Mahony was pivotal in the launch of BaxterStorey, then a new independent player in the contract catering market created following the merger of Wilson Storey Halliday and BaxterSmith. Since then, he has been central to the growth of the business both in the UK and in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Norway.

 

Meanwhile, through his work with Springboard, Beyond Food and the House of St Barnabas, Mahony has offered his support and time to help make a difference to young people looking to break into hospitality and to those at risk of, or who have experienced, homelessness.

 

Mahony was recognised with the Foodservice Caterer award at the 2009 Cateys, and since then has continued to lead by example with a tenacious, diligent management style that has inspired his BaxterStorey colleagues, along with the wider WSH business, to continue to push boundaries and exceed expectations.

 

Long-time colleague Alastair Storey told us: “Having known Noel for almost 30 years, I’ve had first-hand experience of what he has done to support so many people and businesses during this time. Not only has he been a driving force behind the incredible development of the BaxterStorey business, but now, in his role at WSH, he is offering his expertise across all of our brands, giving our teams the benefit of his many years of experience.”

 

“Noel is truly an unsung hero in our industry and his unwavering continued commitment to our sector is a huge inspiration to so many people. To give you an example, we recently acquired a business in Paris, so Noel decided to start learning French. He’s not very good, but he’s trying. He is always up for the challenge and will always put his shoulder to the wheel to get things done.” Green and Fortune chief executive John Nugent said our winner has “an innate ability to bring great thinking and people together” and added that his “non-fussy style has been instrumental in the development of the business side, as well as the soft side, of WSH”.

 

Nugent said: “From working with almost every brand within the portfolio to leading great charitable and social initiatives, he has been key in creating the DNA of WSH.

 

“Noel implicitly understands the nuances of the many markets he oversees, delivering creative and workable solutions within each category. He has an innate ability to bring great thinking and people together.

 

He is so well regarded within the sector too and is a key influencer.”

 

Liked by colleagues and competitors alike, widely respected for his positivity and a great champion of catering, Mahoney continues to set the highest of standards in the industry.

 

Past winners

 

2022 Nick Vadis, Compass UK & Ireland

 

2021 Chris Moore, the Clink

 

2019 Mike Sunley, Lexington Catering

 

2018 Wendy Bartlett, Bartlett Mitchell

 

2017 Simon Esner, BaxterStorey

 

2016 Phil Hooper, Sodexo

 

2015 Robyn & Tim Jones, CH&Co Group

 

2014 Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent

 

2013 David Mulcahy, Sodexo

 

The judges

 

This award was judged by The Caterer editorial team