Page 38 - KZN Top Busines Portfolio 2020/21

CAPITOL CATERERS

Merrill King
www.capitolcaterers.co.za

QUALITY SERVICE AND GREAT FOOD flexibility to source products from smaller and
entrepreneurial suppliers to service the specific needs
Founded in July 1992, Capitol Caterers is now one of of their contracts.
the leading industrial catering companies in South Quality Management Systems
Africa. “Welcome to the Family” is the company’s
motto; a truism endorsed by staff and clients’ alike. All contracts adhere to QMS (Quality Management
Systems) together with a customised in-house quality
Capitol Caterers services more than 100 customised control system, CHESS (Capitol Health, Environment
catering contracts in the education, healthcare, & Safety Standards). Operations are governed by
commercial and retirement sectors within South Africa the Occupational Health & Safety Act, ISO 9001 and
and Eswatini. The company specialises in providing high HACCP standards. A dedicated OHS Officer conducts
quality, nutritious and well-balanced meals to meet regular internal audits and ensures training on food
divergent dietary requirements, tastes and group sizes. safety, hygiene and industrial kitchen standards.
CEO Merrill King heads up the operation, supported Dietetics
by joint managing directors, Russell Nzimande The Dietetics Department offers nutritional support
and Laura Morton. All bring a unique skill set to the
company; King as an award-winning executive chef and contributes to the wellness needs of the company’s
and Nzimande and Morton as industry specialists in clients. Their functions include menu analysis,
operations and contract catering. menu design, education on special diets and allergy
considerations. The dieticians also prepare educational
The Capitol Workers Trust material and regularly conduct talks on the importance
Capitol Caterers currently employs in excess of 1400 of healthy nutrition and balanced lifestyle practices.
personnel. Much of the company’s success can be Midlands Hospitality Academy
attributed to a stable workforce evidenced by the large Capitol Caterers believes in upskilling their staff and
number of staff who have been with the company for to continuously develop their expertise. One of the
over fifteen years. These trends stem from a strong tools to enable this goal has been the establishment
empowerment ethic and a business philosophy deeply of the Midlands Hospitality Academy (MHA), which is
rooted in staff wellness. accredited by QCTO and CATHSSETA.
Founder, Giles King, with a vision of empowering Learnership opportunities are offered to both
loyal staff for their long service, instituted a employed and unemployed external applicants, which
significant change in 2002 by transferring 21% of the are conducted in-house or through on-line training
company’s ownership to the Capitol Workers Trust. programmes. The academy has partnered with various
This percentage has now ballooned to 49% and training providers who educate the students in the
beneficiaries (after five years of service) all receive a latest trends in the hospitality environment.
proportionate imbursement from regular dividend
declarations. Capitol Caterers support the development and
employment of disabled individuals. Four employees
Supply Chain are currently participating in a registered learnership
A dedicated department manages all procurement for with ICAN (PMI Group). Additionally, a partnership
the group. Capitol Caterers supply chain agreements with the Department of Social Development and
ensure best price practice, quality compliance, field Mental Health has, over the past year, enabled a
to fork traceability and adherence to the company’s further four people living with disabilities to be
Sustainability Plan. A strength is in the company’s integrated into the workforce.

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