Having worked hand-in-hand with UK Chef Organisations over the past 20 years and knowing how challenging the industry can be, ‘Our Promise’ is a fantastic scheme, designed to benefit the people who work in the sector: the Chefs! Throughout the year Major make a donation from every pot of product sold carrying the Our Promise sticker. The total sums are then divided equally between the British Culinary Federation, The Craft Guild of Chefs, The Welsh Culinary Association and the Federation of Chefs, Scotland. Each organisation is then free to decide how the monies are to be best spent.
The first cheque to be presented this year went to the Craft Guild of Chefs. Andrew Green, The Craft Guild’s Director of Operations, visited us on site at the Major House. “Once again we are really grateful to Major for this kind donation. Whilst I am not 100% sure exactly how the money will be used at present, we will certainly be reinvesting it back into the many youth activities we run to help the next generations of chefs. We believe them to be incredibly important for the future of this industry. In the grander scheme of things, donations aside, we are equally grateful to for our partnership with Major and their ongoing support and collaboration all year round, including the longstanding Major Series.”
Sponsors of England’s National Culinary Team, who did us proud in the Culinary Olympics this year in Erfurt and partners of the BCF, Major also met with the Chairman Matt Davies. Taking time out of his busy schedule and job as Executive Chef at the Moat House, Acton Trussell, Davies told us how the BCF cheque would be put to good use. “In addition to the normal BCF charities” announced Davies, “following the recent passing of the much loved and well respected Eric Bruce of the Belfry, the BCF will be making a donation towards pancreatic cancer research.”
In Scotland, Chief Executive Neil Thompson received the cheque on behalf of the Scottish Federation of Chefs. “I can only thank David and everyone at Major International for the tremendous support they give to the industry and all the Chefs Associations. The cheque for £2500 is very much appreciated’ said Thompson. “ As I discussed, we would like to attribute this to the Scottish Culinary Academy, which we founded in 2011. The SCA provides training and development opportunities for chefs of all ages but in particular the chefs of the future.”
With the Welsh Culinary Association scheduled to be presented with their cheque in February, it is safe to say that it has been another fantastic year here at Major. Other than the brand new Korean addition to our Mari Base range, launched at the LUNCH Show!, and our sterling performance in our BRC audit, we have welcomed some great new members to the Major Team: Bob McDonald, Major’s new Consultant Chef for Ireland, Willie Pike, our new Consultant Chef for Scotland and our fantastic new Development Chef Fergus Martin, former Head Chef at Darwin College, Cambridge. With more exciting things in stock for the pot for 2017, keep watching this space for some serious #majorecipes!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone here at the Chef’s Base.
Click here to find out more about Our Promise