Scottish catering and hospitality news in Scotland

Scotland's hotel sector continues to outperform its counterparts in the rest of regional UK during May, according to the latest monthly survey by accountants and business advisers, PKF. In Scotland there was 0.6% increase in occupancy compared to
a 5.5% drop for regional UK, and a 6.4% fall in England alone. Meanwhile, rooms yield fell by only 4.1% in Scotland as opposed to 14.6% in regional UK and 15.9% in England.

Both Edinburgh and Glasgow had an increase in occupancy, 2.3% and 2.9% respectively, but Aberdeen actually dipped by 10% in May.

'The latest monthly figures indicate that Scotland seems to be outperforming the rest of the UK during these very difficult times,' says Alastair Rae, a partner at PKF. 'In particular, Edinburgh and Glasgow are holding up well in terms of occupancy and rooms yield, and Edinburgh has now had two months of positive occupancy figures and a reasonable degree of stability in rooms yield.

'These figures are relatively positive for Scotland, but should be treated with some caution, as it is clear that we are still some distance from recovery. The hospitality sector will improve when the wider economy picks up and there is little evidence to suggest that this is likely to occur before next year. The tourism market will provide a necessary lifeline for much of Scotland's hotel sector while business expenditure remains deflated.'

City Merchant has been purchased by Cafe India Group. The Matteo family, who opened the restaurant over 20 years ago, sold the lease of the restaurant for £500,000.

Abdul Sattar, owner of Cafe India Group said:' While Cafe India is one of our best known brands, we have interests in many other restaurants throughout central Scotland including The Grape Vine in Bothwell.
'We have no intention of changing City Merchant, and junior members of the Matteo family will remain as active operators, with Nicola Matteo as general manager, Tony Matteo Jnr as manager and front of house and Marissa Matteo supervising the kitchen. Paul Aitken will remain as head chef.'

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has confirmed the appointment of George Benson, commercial director of Edinburgh-based Bellevue, as vice-president.

'As a long-time supporter and active Council member of the SWA with responsibilities including recruitment and non-licensed trade activity, George is a real asset to the Association and is ideally placed to embrace the challenges facing our industry over the next couple of years,' says Iain Hill, President of the SWA.

'George's experience of the industry will bring fresh ideas and increased drive to the Association, and I look forward to working with him in the coming months.
'He will be an articulate and effective figurehead for the SWA as we continue to lobby government on key issues affecting the wholesale industry, develop relevant training programmes and help our members' businesses become more profitable.'

Bellevue, which operates cash and carries in Edinburgh and Stirling, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

'As a Council member, I have found my involvement with the Association very rewarding and I look forward to assuming the position of president when Iain steps down after his two-year term at our 2010 annual conference,' says George.
'With the changes to Scotland's licensing laws and the raft of ongoing legislative and legal compliance issues that directly affect our businesses and staff, we need a strong SWA to ensure that our voice is heard.'

The Federation of Chefs Scotland has announced the appointment of two new Culinary Team Managers for the Scottish Junior and Senior Culinary Teams.
David Auchie will guide the Juniors, while the Scottish Senior Team Manager will be David Hunt.

David Auchie, a lecturer at South Lanarkshire College, was a member of the Scottish Culinary team from 1996 to 2004 when he captained the team that came 5th in the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt. He was also crowned Scottish Chef of the Year in 1997.

Meanwhile, David Hunt, who is currently Executive Chef at Inspire Catering, has worked in many senior positions within contract catering over the last 15 years and was a member of the Scottish Culinary Team from 1996- 2002.
David was named The Craft Guild of Chefs' Contract Catering Chef of the Year 2007 and reached the final of National Chef of the Year Competition in 2006.

The new Team Managers will oversee the recruitment and development of the Scottish
Culinary Teams, as well as the training sessions at Gleneagles Hotel, the teams' official training venue, in preparation for the Culinary World Cup that at Expogast in Luxemburg in November 2010.

Visit www.scottishchefs.com for more information.

Occupancy levels for Edinburgh hotels during April rose by more than any other city in the UK. according to accountants and business advisers, PKF. The capital had a 6.0% increase in occupancy during April, with the joint-lowest fall in rooms yield along with York.

However, Scotland's three main cities saw occupancy rates falling by as much as 11.1%in Glasgow.

This shows that Edinburgh has retained its strong leisure market despite the economic situation over the last year or so,' says Alastair Rae, a partner at PKF.
'The city is continuing to attract large numbers of tourists, perhaps encouraged by the strength of the dollar and the euro which is producing an encouraging stability in both occupancy and rooms yield for the capital's hospitality sector.'

'Glasgow, meanwhile, has been hit by reduced business spending which will have affected its successful conference market. Unfortunately this aspect of trade is likely to remain depressed for some time as business expenditure looks likely to remain flat for the foreseeable future.
'The market remains volatile and there is still considerable uncertainty about the direction the economy is moving in. However, there is some encouragement for Edinburgh's hoteliers as the city retains a worldwide attraction for large numbers of tourists, and investment in the capital remains high. The Missoni Hotel in the heart of the city is a positive indication of activity in the sector and the figures for April would certainly indicate that hotel investment in Edinburgh is a sound proposition.'

The Results of the 2009 CIS Excellence Awards, in association with Blue
Arrow Catering and Caterer.com

The Healthier Scotland Award, sponsored by the healthyliving award in
association with Healthier Scotland
WINNER:
Donaldson's Bistro, Edinburgh

Runners-up:
Brockies Lodge Hotel, Kiltarlity
Fraser Adam, ARAMARK


The Innovation in Training Award, co-sponsored by People 1st and
Xpress Recruitment
WINNER: Apex Hotels Ltd

Runner-up: Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St Andrews


The Contract Catering Chef of the Year Award, co-sponsored by Blue
Arrow Catering & Caterer.com
WINNER: Eddie Ward, ARAMARK
Runners-up: Yoram Odentz, Sodexo
David Ward, Prestige Scotland (Hampden Park)


The Food-Tourism Award, co-sponsored by Charlton House & Hilton Glasgow
WINNER: Mhor
Runners-up: A Taste of Arran
Cameron House Hotel


The Restaurant Newcomer of the Year Award, co-sponsored by ASA Recruitment
& Sodexo
WINNER: The Cameron Grill Restaurant, Loch Lomond
Runners-up: Restaurant at the Rutland, Edinburgh
Ship2Shore 24, Linlithgow


The Pub-Restaurant Excellence Award, co-sponsored by Brakes & MCL
WINNER: Stravaigan, Glasgow
Runners-up: Anglers Inn,
Guildtown, Perthshire
Element, Edinburgh


The Award for Excellence in Hospitality Education, co-sponsored by
Motherwell College
WINNER: Norman Robertson, Ayr College
Runners-up: Willie McCurrach, Glasgow Metropolitan College
David Auchie, Lanarkshire College


The Hotel of the Year Award, sponsored by ARAMARK
WINNER: Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond
Runners-up: Isle of Eriska Hotel, Benderloch
Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye


The Restaurant of the Year Award, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions
WINNER: Michael Caines at Abode, Glasgow
Runners-up: The Horseshoe Inn, Eddleston
Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow


The Chef of the Year Award, sponsored by BaxterStorey Ltd
WINNER: Bruce Sangster
Runners-up: Tony Borthwick
Charlie Lockley


The Lifetime Excellence Award, sponsored by Braehead Foods Ltd
WINNER: Shirley Spear, The Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye

Unilever Foodsolutions (UFS) UK has appointed Tracey Rogers as Managing Director. Tracey, previously Chairman of Unilever Central Europe, has been with the company for 17 years and will take over from Simon Marshall who is moving to North America as Vice President of the UFS.