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WhitCo’s New Venture Offers A Taste Of The Future, Today and WELCOMES Professional Chefs & Catering Operators Home Cooks, Local Food Producers & Manufacturers FE & HE Colleges, Universities, Training Partners & Associations WIPs Members Club & General Public Open Days to experience the art of the possible. WhitCo, award-winning specialists in the design, supply, and installation of professional catering equipment for kitchens, bars and restaurants, is the fi rm behind an initiative to open a trade and retail outlet for professional chefs and home cooks. WhitCo’s products and services, which are best in class, affordable and high quality, will now be on show at their HQ in Thrapston. Thousands of square feet of offi ce and warehousing space have been gutted, redesigned and converted into a multi-functional experience that features a 60-cover restaurant, multipurpose bar/café, business meeting room, membership-based Club and a shop stocked with tableware, chef and cook essentials and a selection of MADE IN NORTHAMPTON foods. Entering through an al fresco café, it is clear that the new facility is a highly fl exible demonstration of how to design, fi t and run a profi table hospitality business that is equipped to meet the demands facing the industry. The WhitCo leadership team has engineered this business change to host events on design, specifi cation and styling through to installation and aftercare service whilst on site training will be provided using innovative kitchen equipment and food tastings. The entire transformation process including design, construction, fi t out and furnishings has all been done in-house. Trade clients will visit as they did before, however there will also be structured demonstration days in the fully operational TEST KITCHEN, which was designed to be the kitchen of the future, preparing and cooking foods we want to eat today. Trade clients will be able to see how their traditional methods of preparation and cooking can be done using innovative technology which can also help to reduce costs. The dining areas are also showcases in themselves, from design and build to interior design and styling. Everything that clients can touch and see (and can not see!) is in place to assist the trade to create their own individual restaurant space and dining. WhitCo CEO Vita Whitaker says: “We wanted to bring together the best that our industry has to offer in a working environment that looks and feels like a professional kitchen and restaurant, where we can invite in professionals and members of the public for a unique experience.” A Business Club - Cappuccino Concierge The venue also hosts a membership-only Business Club. Members’ benefi ts include free parking, tea, coffee and fi ltered water, discounted food, drinks, and meeting room hire, offi ce services, networking events and concierge services. Vita explains: “We have retail and trade clients, but we are not open to the public. Members sign up as a WIP – a WhitCo Important Person. They enjoy the benefi ts of everything from a great cappuccino to a concierge service, as well as discounts on products and services. Members can use the Taste Restaurant and Bar, enjoy discounts at The Shop or attend food and drink tastings. Members will also have access to meeting facilities, private and business venue hire, drinks, nibbles, offi ce services, meeting room hire, guest passes, and Wi-Fi. WhitCo will be supplying catering services ranging from easy-peasy snacks to a buffet, chef’s table, an a la carte menu, a private chef, or a private party.” The Innovative Test Kitchen This is the domain of WhitCo’s newly appointed Sales Development and Executive Chef, Scott Williams. His wide experience includes working as Head Chef at Richard Branson’s Necker Island as well as senior positions at Ragdale Hall and Kilworth House Hotel. This key role is to help other chefs make informed decisions about new equipment and kitchen designs. Taste Restaurant, Cafe & Bar As well as featuring locally produced and sourced Made in Northampton food and drinks, this fully functioning dining room features wide choices in seating, tables, styling and lighting for customers to sample and compare to enable them to decide what would work best in their own premises. Cheff’s Offi ce/Table This stylish and comfortable business meeting room seats eight and is a punning acknowledgement of the infl uence of WhitCo’s founder, Jeff Whitaker. The area transforms into a place where a la carte meals are served and highlights the best culinary foods and service skills, and ways of changing the operation of the Test Kitchen and service style. The Shop This is an immersive experience. The Shop offers stylish tableware, chef and cook essentials, Made in Northamptonshire food and drink products, furniture, and lots more. The shop stocks an impressive range of iconic equipment from non-stick pans to juicers, mixers, and coffee machines. Al Fresco Dining at The Cabana! The dedicated entrance was once an old recycling yard and has been transformed into a bamboo fringed outside café area that highlights a style of al fresco furniture and other fi ttings to transport visitors to a beach-like environment. The transformation of this space once again helps customers see how to turn every inch of space into an area to return sales. Says Vita: “We are a people-to-people business. I think of it as the fi ve Ts. It is about test, taste, touch, talk and tell. Our clients can test equipment and changes to operation, taste good food, touch every fi xture and fi tting, talk and discuss ways forward and offer up valuable feedback by telling us what they think!” And it doesn’t stop there; plans are advancing well to open a cookery school in the New Year with cookery classes open to the public. For more information on how WhitCo can help transform your business, contact Vita Whitaker on 01832 735007 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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