The 2010 Catey Winners

Let's learn from their success

Another Cateys night has come and gone, and it's time to remind ourselves of the extraordinary things our winners have done in order to merit walking home with a Catey statue of their own this year.

The global recessionary crisis of the past two years has sparked a self-imposed age of austerity. As Government and citizens attempt to get our domestic economy back on to a more stable foonng, every pound of out-of-home spend will need to be hard-fought for by hospitality operators. At the same time, the expectations of value among guests and customers will inevitably rise.

Against this uncertain backdrop, there has never been a greater need around the industry for high-achievers with the ability to inspire others and steer their businesses safely. All the winners of the 2010 Cateys are exemplars of great operations or hard-working individuals, dedicated to raising and upholding standards.

By honouring their success, we also offer the industry a benchmark against which it can gauge its own accomplishments, and a blueprint for continuing business success.

Since their inception in 1984, the Cateys have cast a spotlight on the industry's high-flyers, strongest performers and hottest brands. Over quarter of a century, they have become a byword for quality, class and achievement, the awards that everybody wants to win. No wonder, then, that the industry refers to them as its Oscars Night.

Two elements in particular combine to make a Catey such a desirable accolade: peer-group recognition and a meticulous judging process. Candidates in each category are nominated by the readers of Caterer. Winners are chosen by judging panels selected for their expertise and industry knowledge, and honoured before an industry audience. Nothing beats winning praise from your colleagues - those who know the industry inside out and who can spot quality a mile off.

We should applaud our winners' success, be inspired by it and seek to reproduce it in our own enterprises and professions.

Mark Lewis

Group Editor

Caterer and Hotelkeeper

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