BaxterStorey – the leading independent foodservice provider – has created a bespoke training solution ahead of the new allergen legislation coming into force in December 2014.
670 premises to be compliant
Recognising the huge task of ensuring all 670 of its premises are compliant with the new legislation by 13 December this year, BaxterStorey has implemented a unique training programme which will develop 1,500 ‘Allergy Champions’ across the business this summer, ensuring all employees are fully trained three months prior to the deadline.
6,500 employees to receive training
The rollout is one of the company’s biggest ever training exercises, with 6,500 employees across BaxterStorey receiving regular regional and on-the-job training sessions.
2 ‘Allergy Champions’ for each site restaurant
Two employees from each site restaurant will be trained as BaxterStorey’s new ‘Allergy Champions’, allowing them to deliver training to their teams and communicate allergy information to customers. The champions consisting of managers, head chefs, sous chefs and operations managers – will benefit from a specialised course on the new legislation that will teach them what allergens are, how allergens make people ill, how they can treat an allergic reaction and how to avoid causing one.
Following the training, they will impart their new knowledge to their teams during weekly bite-sized ‘Training Tuesday’ sessions.
Making life easier for customers
Tom Barrett, Project Director at BaxterStorey, said: “The Food Information Regulations 2014 is a positive measure towards providing much greater information to our customers about the food we serve – especially relating to allergens and how we label our food – without compromising the creativity of our teams.
“Living with the unpredictability of food allergic symptoms is stressful enough for sufferers, so this new legislation will go a long way to making life easier for our customers. BaxterStorey is fully committed to ensuring this new legislation is effectively rolled out across all of our sites in order to benefit our customers and remove any element of risk.”
About BaxterStorey
BaxterStorey is the UK’s leading independent food service specialist. Its heritage is built on the culinary expertise and the professional training and development of its people.
It employs almost 6,500 people at over 670 locations, and provides food service excellence to clients and customers in business and industry.
BaxterStorey’s core principle is to serve the best quality food, sourced and prepared locally using the finest produce. Through its chef and barista academies, it provides focused and dedicated training to front line teams helping them to become the best in their profession and to build a career for life.
The reach and talent of BaxterStorey’s business enables it to draw on an extensive pool of expertise within the food service sphere in the UK, providing it with a strong foundation to share and distribute best practice both locally and across the country.
Follow BaxterStorey on Twitter @baxter_Storey