Page 6 - Thrapston Life September 2024

QA
In 1995 WhitCo was established in Thrapston, manufacturing commercial kitchens
and restaurants. Vita Whitaker, CEO & Commercial Director, gives us an insight into the business and how it’s evolved...
and great people – hospitality is a wonderful industry to work in, no matter what job you hold.
Describe your business in five words...
Entrepreneurial, customer centric, friendly,
What made you choose Thrapston?
We lived in a nearby village and liked
the proximity. We also liked the idea
of being in a light industrial estate just
off a main street, which also allows us
to use all of the local amenities. It’s a
friendly, hardworking town with lots
of history and an array of businesses -
from food to flags to garden sheds, dentists and doctors – all long established in the area.
Any plans to expand further? If we can just add more services to customers from the WhitCo business, it would be great to employ more local people.
What is the best thing about your job? Food,
professional.
Favourite restaurant design? Ours! What’s the biggest part of business?
BOH (back of house) Commercial Kitchens. We are great at that, from small to large to MEGA big!
Most challenging part of the job?
Prioritising.
And now you have a cafe? Yes, for modelling
and simulating. We test machines and theories in the kitchen, food and service style in ‘Taste Restaurant’, and look at pricing and the ways to never compromise on great ingredients.
Any funny moments? The stairlift getting jammed!
It’s a friendly, hardworking town with lots of history
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WHITCO
Kitchens and Restaurants