EAME Chapters

Report of European Allied Members Working Group

Tim Gamble reported that the history goes back to Edinburgh were the Board agreed to establish a European Allied Members Working Group. In the right way it could be a benefit for both sides for the Allied and for the Professionals and not the intention to create a private club. The first meeting was last year in September in Düsseldorf. This meeting was very productive. The discussed issues were for example :

·        the Code of conduct,

·        marketing,

·        Application forms etc.

It is Tim’s point of view that there is a need to have an input from the Allied members in the marketing issue. Tim tried to organise a EAWG meeting at one of the days during the Conference. But unfortunately he had to cancel to because the meeting was not going to be well represented.

Unit report of FCSI Germany-Austria e.V.

Martin Rahmann started his report by saying that because  Kornelius Kirsch the Vice-President left the boards for personal and private reasons in May 2007 Martin has succeeded him.

·        Martin will expect 70 Professional member in the next one and a half year. FCSI Germany-Austria had now in total 93 members.

·        The Autumn Seminar took place in 2006 in Pordenone (Italy) at the Headquarter of Electrolux.

·        The AGM in 2006 has taken place in Leipzig.

·        Four Board meetings were held in 2006 and 2007.The agenda one meeting was only dedicated to the item: “Co-operation with allied firm members”.

·        The task force “ Manufactory of Thinking” worked out its first order of an allied firm member. The order consisted to study on 5 questions in relation with the pro and against of using interiors of bathroom materials. The result was given after researches and audits in the circle of hotel owners and managers. The concerned allied member is satisfied with an independent result. 

·        On initiative of the WW President Gerhard Kühnel begged the Germany-Austria members to respond on a few questions. Honestly we didn’t expect a lot of responses, but were really surprised that nearly 50% of the Professional. members sent a response.  

·        On the Hogatec trade show (25^th to 29^th September) FCSI G-A were represented the first time by a common stand with other associations in front of a business meeting area. It was a great success and will be followed this year. The Forum of experts works very well. On the most representatives trade shows in Germany and in Austria different members (professionals and

corporate as well) deliver presentations to different items to attendees of trade shows. (15 minutes speech and 15 minutes discussion.) 

·        The Competency statements are translated and introduced on the membership 

·        Christoph Trinkl has been in charge of the Ceu’s administration since last year. The administration is not without problems. In the beginning of a period a great part of the members see it on a long term and don’t deliver the forms. Nevertheless the G-A board remain on the philosophy of quality.  

·        The first test of the exam took place on 10^th July 2006. The whole board passed them and were successful on different levels. They got their special seal and may use it on their business papers. The bylaws are changed in that way that every new member or such which will upgrade to professional member has to pass them in a time of 2 years. Online quizzes will be introduced as soon as the new WW web-site works and the G-A one will be adapted. 

·        The year 2006 ended with profit. The first part of the credit given by FCSI Europe is paid back. The second part will be transferred in May. The finances are in order.

Unit report of FCSI UK-Ireland

Richard Wedgbury began his report by saying that FCSI UK and Ireland is happy with the decision that Vic Laws will stay as Administrator for FCSI UK-Ireland.

·        During the last year regular meetings have been even more successful, with on average over 100 people in attendance.

·        Meetings were held at the Local Government Association in London in September, where a panel discussion on cashless systems was held. 

·        This was followed in October by another successful Forum with nearly 40 professional members and 60 Allied members taking part. 

·        In December, Baxter-Storey hosted our Christmas lunch, which also included a presentation on delivering presentations. 

·        January saw us hold a meeting at the Hospitality Exhibition in Birmingham together with the Association of Catering Excellence, and several very interesting speakers spoke about Staff Challenges for the Future.  I

·        n February, our FCSI colleagues from Australia joined us at the RIBA in London, and gave us a presentation to enable us to learn from them following their experiences at the Sydney Olympics.  A full program has been prepared for the forthcoming year, one of the highlights of which will be a tour of the new Wembley Stadium.

·        Executive meetings have been held regularly and these, together with our Promotions Group meetings have shaped our strategy during the year.

·        Our Young Persons Initiative has continued well this year, and 4 people have been sponsored by both ourselves and the World-wide Educational Foundation to join us here at the Prague Conference. 

Discussions are taking place with both CESA and CEDA with regard to training in consultancy for younger people.

·        The FCSI has been represented on the cross industry Sustainability Forum, and this is a very important on-going topic for the future.

·        We have made presentations to the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) on kitchen design and a management presentation is currently being prepared.

·        The Allied Members Task Force, which has been representing the view of our Allied members, has met regularly and they have introduced revised criteria for Allied membership to meet UK operational requirements.

·        The UK & Ireland web-site has been a very good focus for sales activity this year with over 3000 visits each month. Our advertising level in the last year has been focused on facilities management magazines and directories.  Another very successful edition of Aspire magazine was also produced in October in association with the Forum.

·        Membership is being maintained with 57 professional members, 20 student members and 66 Allied member companies.

·        A very successful trip to France was organised by Dominique and Séraphine  (the new Administrator of FCSI France) in March this year, when 24 UK & Ireland members travelled to Paris to meet their French colleagues.  Everyone benefited considerably from the educational content of the visits to catering operations, and the opportunity for an interchange of ideas was very much appreciated.

·        A programme for 2007/08 is currently being finalised.  This includes our Annual General Meeting which is being held at Westminster Kingsway College on the 14^th of June, a meeting and tour round Wembley Stadium on the 30^th of August and our Forum, which is being held at the QEII Conference Centre in London on the 17^th of October.

Over the last two years, Richard Wedgbury has successfully chaired the UK operation, and in June he will be succeeded by our current Vice Chair, Tony Galvin.   Tony’s Vice Chair will be Jonathan Doughty.

Elections are currently taking place for a new Allied Member Representative, having said goodbye to Steve Loughton, who has contributed greatly over the last two years.

Unit report of FCSI France

Dominque van Moerkercke started his report by announcing that :

·        FCSI France had two new Corporate Members in 2006 and four new Corporate members in 2007. and two new Professional members in 2006 and three in 2007.

·        FCSI France has publicised “La Démarche HQE en Restauration : Quels enjeux »

·        Dominque summarised the events of the years of 2006 and 2007 starting with Equip’ Hotel in Paris in November 2006. With a stand placed with similar services and association that gathered many professional of advice in foodservice. The visitors had the occasion to inquire for their Foodservices project for free. Halton took the occasion to provide a concert.

·        In January 2007 the exhibition “Sirha” took place. FCSI France had a stand at the international hotel catering and food trade exhibition for the first time. It has been a fruitful exhibition for FCSI France and its members. The visitors had the occasion to get free advice.

·        In March 2007 the visit of FCSI UK and Ireland was a great event .

·        The visit of UCP Boulogne built using the HEQ process.

FCSI France had the following schedules for 2007: 

·        The European Conference in Prague in May 2007,

·        the HEQ guide launching in June in Paris in June,

·        the visit of FCSI Germany-Austria in September in Paris and a Student trip end of the year.

·        The visit of the firm UGINE to develop the theme of stainless steel’s new stakes and prices. in November with the topic “what kind of catering in 2020?” is planned in Paris.

The French board meetings were planned for March, June, September and December. And the Annual General Meeting is planned  for the 1^st of February  in 2008. The main topics for the event are : “What kind of catering in 2020”, “Stainless steel’s new stakes and prices”, “FCSI France and the French-speaking communities” and at not least the” FCSI Europe marketing” issue.

Unit report of FCSI Switzerland

Marno  Schmidt reported that after a successful 2005, the year 2006 filled with enthusiasm of even larger projects.

·        The increase of participants confirms that we are on the right way with regard to information, tips and ideas of top cadre members as well as cultivate, social and culinary wishes.

A short summary of the events we had which the participants will not forget so fast:

·        The annual general meeting in the Zunfthaus Zimmerleute (Guild house of Carpenters) Zurich.

·        The dinner afterwards with 39 participants in the probably smallest dining-car of Zurich without  an own kitchen.

The new distinctive sign on the mountain of Zurich, the Hotel building “The Dolder Grand”. For Swiss proportion a unique dimension. Participants 39.

·        Two days autumn meeting in the Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona (South  of Switzerland) with total 46 participants. All of them were interested in discovering the secret – why the most famous holiday hotel of Switzerland is so successful.

For the events in 2006 and the planning for 2007, 6 meetings of the executive committee were needed. The Program for 2007 is as follows:

·        Meeting on 30 March in the Hotel Marriott Courtyard Zurich, with a seminar part “dream steam” - new food technical.

·        Two days seminar in Andermatt. Visiting the deaf-centre. Catering (new system) in the famous Glacier-Express train. Journey from St. Moritz to Zermatt. Over-night stay in the fortress hotel (bunker) in the Gotthard massif. Night from 14/15 September,

·        2007.Event/seminar with a well-known political personage on 20 November at the fair IGEHO Basel.

Not only the events but also the following activities need to be mentioned:

·        The international Affiliation Agreements were concluded.

·        Thanks to the flourishing outcome the year before, we were able to increase the earnings despite of the ambitious program during the year.

·        The internet/homepage was steady brought up to date.

·        Less administration work - compared with the previous years. The details of the membership are: We welcomed the new member SIMETA AG, Niederwil The companies HILDEBRAND AG and ELLEMA AG left FCSI.

Further I would like to point out, that without the support of the members and Richard Schmocker and his team at the association office FCSI Switzerland, such  a super year like 2006 would not have been possible.

Unit report of FCSI Netherlands

Gérard Wolbert began his report by presenting the Dutch Board of Trustees: Gérard Wolbert (new chair), Gerrit Groenendijk  (secretary), Eugene Gossens (Treasurer) and John Hokkeling (vice Chair).

The FCSI Netherlands has organised several meetings and workshops for example:

·        Workshop Food & retail, Workshop “why you need a professional consultant” (discussion),

·        Presentation & discussion sustainability (follow up from Edinburgh), Workshop PPC construction,

·        Workshop European Tender, Workshop “buy or make”.  The membership showed a growth of 2 Professional member and one corporate member. Two Professional members left FCSI NL. A launch growth were shown in the membership categories like Affiliate and Students.

·        The Dutch Unit is looking for a new policy in membership: “Quality instead of Quantity”. The developments has as main subjects the internal discussion about:

·        The culture of FCSI The Netherlands

·        Different role of the corporate members

·        Widen contact with other kinds of corporate and associated organisations

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Unit report of FCSI Italy

Renata  Suardi reported:  

·        The annual financial balance of the unit is positive.

·        In May 2006 a meeting was held to renewal of the Italian Board and Mr. Luciano Cattaneo was elected as President of FCSI Italy. The vice President is Pierro Ferrari. Armando Pujatti was confirmed as representative of the Allied members flanked by Marco Branchetti.

·        FCSI Italy is glad to inform the Board that the recruitment policy was successful. During the Spring–meeting in 2007 the Italian Board approved the acceptance of 2 new Professional members, 2 new Allied Corporate members, and 1 Individual Corporate member.

·        During the past Year FCSI Italy decided that the priority was the preparation of the Italian web-site, which is now running (fcsi-italia.org). The reason why FCSI Italy choose to commit to develop the web-site is that we are convinced that FCSI Italy needs the maximum visibility in order to explain, to reach prospective members, new customers and most important of all to get its members to be known in the market.

·        To this last purpose we have contacted two magazines very well know in Italy to all food system operators in order to publish advertising and editorials.

·        FCSI Italy were also getting in touch with Italian Universities so as to develop co-operations for mutual benefit.

·        The Italian Unit is thankful for the good co-operation to its members. And that this will allow to do more in all respect inside and outside the Unit.

·        During September 2006 a delegation of French members lead by their President  Mr. Dominique van Moerkercke came to Italy for a visit. Since they kindly requested our co-operation Mr. Luciano Cattaneo proposed a cultural gastronomic tour. During the visit the French colleagues had the possibility to see specialised workshops for the production of food and factories. Our Allied Corporate members Messrs Angelo Po have offered them a wonderful hospitality and showed their industrial facility.

·        For the future FCSI Italy have planned a meeting at the end of May 2007 and another in October to make a balance of local Unit activities.