ABOUT US

Ideal Catering Consultancy is about being able to tick all the boxes, finding the ideal catering solution for your organisation, the customer and the catering service partner.

Our range of services are extensive and we are totally flexible in our approach whether in one-off situations or on-going project work.

There is no “standard” or “normal” answer, the ideal solution will have been individually assessed and undertaken on a case by case basis.

We seek to improve consistency of service and tenure through enhanced management control working alongside your existing resource.

A common path for our clients, your customers and the caterer will be found with no unwelcome surprises along the way, either as a drop in quality or a negative effect on finance.

Having had 40 years experience in the hospitality business within hotels, restaurants, contract catering (corporate and independent), as well as having previously managed our own business, we fully understand the operational demands of any catering service. Believe us …… there is no substitute for practical commercial experience!!

“A fresh set of eyes leads to continuous improvement”

“Optimum price for client”

“Emphasis on longevity without complacency”

“No two organisations’ “ideal” will be the same, our service is therefore totally flexible”

Roy Miller
My first job in this fascinating industry was as a weekend kitchen porter quickly followed by a summer working in the Wimpy bar in St.Andrews! After chefing in various establishments, including one of Egon Ronay’s Hotels of the year, whilst gaining my Higher Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, I joined Gardner Merchant as a Catering Manager. Various roles in both operations and sales over 15 years led to London for a period of 2 years as UK sales Director for a large American corporation. On returning home to Scotland in my role as MD for Scotland and International Oil, I was responsible for £85 M Turnover with 2700 employees in 5 countries. Over a beer, many a story can be told of managing business in Kazakhstan and West Africa!!

I was then approached to set up a small independent contract catering company in Scotland which really completed the full circle of experience.

We decided to set up Ideal Catering Consultancy as both Julie and I are passionate about the Industry and even if we improve service levels and customer care a little along the way then we will have given the Industry something back.

Of-course we also know exactly how the contract catering industry “works”, the strengths and weaknesses across the board and I guarantee that in any of our projects the deal will be structured so that “the box is ticked” for Client, Customer and Caterer. Over the years our Industry has deteriorated as the caterer seeks to grow their top line at any cost. When Ideal Catering Consultancy is involved this position will change. Caterers are told from the outset that unrealistic bids, full of promises that cannot be delivered at a price that is not sustainable will simply not be considered. Thankfully we are respected in this particular market so everyone knows where we are coming from to the benefit of the Client, Customer AND Caterer.

Some recent client quotes that make it all great fun!!

“Roy, I cannot believe the difference in pricing from the bidders given the same specification and information”

“How can this work? It is not sustainable; do they think we are totally naive?”

“How can the price of a pint of milk vary between 20 and 46 pence??!!”

“There’s nothing but smoke and mirrors here, what are they actually meaning?”

Julie Miller
“As Catering Consultant my role is to identify opportunities to assist clients achieve their organisation’s commercial and qualitative goals in relation to outsourced services.”
Having worked and been extremely successful in the catering and support services market for 20 years, working for two global organisations and a small independent operator I have a wealth of  experience specialising in all sectors of the Scottish and  UK  outsourced market place.  I am very thorough when interpreting and understanding clients’ viewpoints.

I always challenge how things are done and ask whether things could be done better. My success to date is assisted by my ability to tune very quickly into client's needs and requirements; whilst ensuring proposed changes are achievable. My commitment to my clients is to ensure that recommended changes and service promises are delivered by your chosen service provider and that when the project is complete we can all look back and simply say “the solution and best value was achieved.”