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Wake up and smell the coffee
As one of the world's top universities, the University of Glasgow caters for 18,000 students and more than 5,000 staff, as well as extensive conference business.
As with many hospitality businesses, coffee plays an increasingly important part in daily business and in 2006, First Choice Coffee supplied a Black & White bean-to-cup system to cope with the increased demand for speciality coffees.
Catering in Scotland gives the low-down on the caffeine rush at Glasgow University…
Glasgow is the first university to appear in the Eat Scotland guide, an audited food guide linked to VisitScotland. The University also boasts has Fairtrade status, and has recently gained Sunflower accreditation from the Vegan Society (a first for a Russell Group University).
However, great coffee is not just about the freshly prepared cappuccino or latte that you buy in a café, and the Glasgow University continues that quality in their hospitality and conferencing facilities. Bulk-brew filter coffee is in constant demand in the Wolfson Medical School Building, where up to 300 people can be catered for in the Atrium alone. The glass-roofed heart of the building is one of the institution's most popular conference venues.
Aileen McInnes, Director of Hospitality Services, is proud of their Fairtrade status: "Thanks to the coffee-shop boom, consumers have come to expect the highest quality coffee, which is vital when catering for large groups of people," she says. "We use Grand Café Fairtrade coffee, which is sourced from the highest plantations, where the beans are sun-dried and traditionally slow-roasted to exact specification. The fact that it is Fairtrade really appeals to our students and staff, as they are becoming increasingly aware of ethical sourcing and sustainability."
The Bunn Bulk Brew equipment, supplied by First Choice Coffee, allows the hospitality team to provide a beverage that is of a consistent quality and remains hot.
"The equipment uses revolutionary technology which allows us to brew coffee directly into a Thermal-flask, for instant transportation into the Atrium, to ensure quality and freshness," continues Aileen.
"Coffee is central to any catering operation but particularly so in a university, where students use coffee breaks to study, to keep them stimulated during lectures and to enjoy as a well-deserved break. In terms of our outlets, the vast majority of our customers buy coffee for 'on the go' consumption, and we've created our own unique cups and take-out bags to meet this requirement.".
Alastair Anderson, Business Development Director at First Choice Coffee, concludes:
"The University of Glasgow runs a really professional operation. They provide students and staff with the best quality products and by creating their own branded consumables; they are creating their own identity to rival the coffee shop chains."
This article has been edited from its original version. For the complete feature, please see Catering in Scotland magazine November/December 2007.
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