Positive Restaurant Outlook Can Help Social Enterprise

Commenting on the very positive restaurant business outlook, Restaurant & Catering SA CEO, Sally Neville, says the industry turnover is continuing to grow annually at 7 per cent.

This annual growth rate reflects new businesses as well as higher turnover in the middle-value section of the market.

Business is brisk and the demand for staff is only expected to go up. Sally says:

“We need people in all related occupations, from chefs to bar staff..

There is a shortage of chefs and cooks, particularly in ethnic cuisines, as well as experienced managers..

MasterChef has showcased the industry as an exciting, passionate and viable industry as a career choice..

But it’s important to pay attention to the business skills required to run a business as well as the creative side of cookery, so newcomers avoid becoming statistics.”

Advice To Those Considering A Food Career

Sally advises getting a job in a restaurant and learning as much as you can before investing your life in it!

Qld Social Enterprise Using Food Industry To Address Disadvantage

Phyllis from Queensland tells PWF she has started a food industry social enterprise. She says she is:

“Head of Kitchen in a daytime homeless shelter in Brisbane, Queensland.

In Oct 2009, I launched our Catering enterprise, a Social Enterprise to employ trainees from our client group and coach and mentor them (through a Registered Training Organisation) to achieve a Certificate 3 in Hospitality.

So far we have 2 trainees. I hope to add to this number soon. We are small but busy and hope to grow and diversify.”

Dine Out With Street Smart To Help the Homeless

Dining out is great, we all enjoy it AND it can help do something about Australia’s Silent Epidemic.

Check out Street Smart Australia.

Restaurants can sign up to this campaign to help the homeless. It asks customers to add $2.00 to their bill in the 6 weeks prior to Christmas.

100% of the money goes to grassroots agencies and projects in the form of grants that help people experiencing homelessness or at risk.

You can find a list of participating restaurants here.

Roll on food industry.