Mike Sunley picks up Outstanding Contribution Award at the Foodservice Cateys 2019
Lexington Catering chief executive Mike Sunley was recognised for his contribution to the industry at the Foodservice Cateys 2019, held in partnership with Seafood Week, which took place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, on Friday evening.
Recognised for founding one of the capital's most successful catering businesses, which has always retained people and food at its core, Sunley received the Outstanding Contribution Award.
Vacherin, meanwhile, scooped the Extra Mile Award after a nine-strong team took on the business's biggest ever fundraising activity to celebrate its 15th birthday, cycling 665 miles from its headquarters in London to the Museum of Vacherin cheese in the Jura region of the Swiss Alps and raising more than £20,000.
It was a successful night for several caterers, with Gather & Gather, Green & Fortune, Searcys, Levy, Hampshire County Council and Sunrise Senior Living all walking away with two awards.
Gather & Gather was named Business and Industry Caterer of the Year, while Andrea Fawcett of its Renolit site received the Chef Manager of the Year award. Green & Fortune was presented with the Boutique Caterer of the Year award, while its chef director Jason Wild was named Chef of the Year.
Hampshire County Council Catering Services was presented with the Innovation Award as well as being named Education Caterer of the Year; while Sunrise Senior Living was named Healthcare Caterer of the Year and saw head of nutrition and hydration Sophie Murray clinch the Healthy Eating Champion Award. Searcys was named Event Caterer of the Year, while its recruitment manager Sarah Hutchings was presented with the People and Training Award; while Levy picked up both the Best Use of Technology Award and Trainee Chef of the Year for Nathan Racey.
Presenting the Outstanding Achievement Award to Sunley, who will stand down as chief executive of Lexington at the end of the year, The Caterer deputy editor James Stagg told an audience of 550 guests: "Lexington Catering was founded through a desire to put food and people right at the heart of the organisation. Some 17 years later and this business has become a reference for the term boutique caterer, with a reputation across London for delivery combined with craft.
"Its consistent growth is thanks in no small part to this man's commitment to innovation and industry-leading menu development. As he said in an interview in 2018: ‘Thinking back to the beginning, everything was less complex. What we were doing was ground-breaking. No one else was talking about 'farm to plate', sustainability or employee wellbeing.'
"Of course, these terms are likely to feature on most of today's tender documents, but in 2002 few caterers were talking about healthy eating, provenance or looking to outdo the high street. But this year's Outstanding Contribution Award winner was always seeking to do things differently."
The Foodservice Cateys raised money for industry charity Springboard during the evening.
The winners in full
CSER Award, sponsored by Nestlé Starbucks
CaterED
Best Use of Technology Award, sponsored by CH&Co
Aviva Stadium, Levy Ireland
Innovation Award, sponsored by Zenith Hygiene & Diversey
Hampshire County Council Catering Services (HC3S)
People and Training Award, sponsored by Admiral Recruitment
Sarah Hutchings, Searcys
Front of House Team of the Year, sponsored by Off to Work
Rapport Guest Services at Broadgate
Supplier Excellence Award, sponsored by Amadeus
JJ Foodservice
Healthy Eating Champion, sponsored by Seafish
Sophie Murray, Sunrise Senior Living
Chef Manager of the Year, sponsored by Search Hospitality
Andrea Fawcett, Gather & Gather
Salesperson of the Year, sponsored by Wilcox Birchmore
Sarah Prentice, Blue Apple Contract Catering
Trainee Chef of the Year, sponsored by Caterer.com
Nathan Racey, Levy UK
Chef of the Year, sponsored by Oliver Kay
Jason Wild, Green & Fortune
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Syft
Alex Borley, BaxterStorey
General Manager of the Year, sponsored by Bunzl Catering & Hospitality Division
Trevor Bostridge, Bartlett Mitchell
Regional Manager of the Year, sponsored by Talent Hive
Rebecca Armstrong, the Genuine Dining Co
Boutique Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Franke Coffee Systems
Green & Fortune
Education Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Restaurant Design Associates
Hampshire County Council Catering Services (HC3S)
Healthcare Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Franke Coffee Systems
Sunrise Senior Living
Event Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Rota
Searcys
Retail and Leisure Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Britvic
London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Business and Industry Caterer of the Year, sponsored by Franke Coffee Systems
Gather & Gather
Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Bidfood
Vacherin
Outstanding Contribution Award, sponsored by Coople
Mike Sunley, Lexington
