Dean Kinsey joins Oliver Kay Produce as development chef

Fresh produce specialist Oliver Kay Produce has announced the appointment of Dean Kinsey as their new development chef.

Kinsey will be working with chefs across the full range of hospitality businesses, with an eye to developing the brand's growing vegan and vegetarian offering. He comes from a fine dining background with previous roles in restaurants and hotels, food-led pubs and private dining, and was most recently head chef at Bab NQ restaurant in Manchester.

Ian Stuart, managing director of Oliver Kay Produce, said: "We're delighted to welcome Dean on board. His experience of a broad range of catering businesses combined with the flair, innovative ideas and skills he brings, will ensure our sales teams appreciate what can be done with fantastic seasonal produce, and help our customers offer innovative and profitable menus."

Kinsey added: "I'm delighted to join Oliver Kay, and it's definitely a case of jumping in at the deep end as we launch the search for new and innovative vegan menu ideas." Kinsey will help oversee the Oliver Kay National Vegan Dish of the Year 2020, a recipe competition for chefs, which launches in January 2020.

He added: "It's now essential that hospitality businesses offer engaging vegan options, and I'm looking forward to seeing what my fellow chefs come up with for the competition – as well as working closely with them in the longer term to drive sales of plant-based ingredients, and develop new recipes."