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CAPITOL CATERERS

OUR HERITAGE Capitol Itakane. based on their years of service
“The division that I run is and hierarchy in the business.
Capitol Caterers, the brain child mainly public sector business and This methodology has really
of Giles King, was founded in based on tenders. I also need to empowered Capitol Caterers staff
1993 and is one of the country’s make sure that the locally based and helped with the stability
most prestigious catering suppliers are being looked after of the workforce because the
companies. Headquartered which is the key to our success,” employees feel that they have
in Pietermaritzburg, Capitol says Russell. a sense of ownership of the
Caterers is entering its 26th business. Russell says, “This has
year of service to the education, Merrill King is managing been cherished as something very
health, commercial and director for Capitol Select. valuable and even copied by our
retirement sectors. Merrill has a strong propensity competitors.”
for the quality of food on the
Giles explained that in 1992 plate, having been the group In order to ensure that the staff
catering was a growth industry executive chef for the past 10 are skilled, through another
and he saw that there was years. She focuses on supporting innovation, Capitol Caterers has
potential. He added, “It is clients and staff in the education registered Midlands Hospitality
important for me to stress that we and retirement sectors. Academy (MHA), which is
are not function caterers but that accredited by the Quality Council
this type of catering is industrial “We favour a collaborative style for Trades and Occupations
and institutional catering.” of leadership and obtain input (QCTO) and CATHSSETA.
from all divisions when decisions
His initial contracts were for are to be made,” explains King Apart from upskilling their own
two hospitals in the Eastern Merrill. staff on new trends, the academy
Cape, then the Transkei. “We runs learnerships for unemployed
have now celebrated our 25th “Nothing lacks in either section workers who may then be
anniversary with our 100th of the business, and our staff are employed in the company.
contract. It has been a good just amazing. We keep ourselves
growth and a good vision from relevant,” says Ugashnie. OUR CUSTOMERS
Giles,” says Merrill King.
OUR EMPLOYEES Capitol Caterers is proud to
“Capitol Caterers has been a be the preferred caterer to more
company that has been steadfast “The catering industry is a than 100 clients in KwaZulu-
in the industry. To be part of service industry, so its assets are Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Welcome
a family, which is the business its staff. We can only execute our Cape, Free State, Gauteng as well
motto, keeps our staff happy and mandates with many committed as in Swaziland. to the Family.
retains our clients,” says Ugashnie hands,” says Russell.
Moodley, operations manager. The client base varies from low
“While wages may motivate cost budget meals to catering
OUR LEADERSHIP some staff members, supporting for exclusive board room type retained our contracts. Many of on employment equity,
our staff so that they are happy functions. However, the passion our clients are tender business training, empowerment and
Giles is the current chairman means that all our clients are for quality, innovative, home and at the end of each contract procurement initiatives across
and although semi-retired happy too,” added Giles. cooked nutritious food is reflected you are put back to the test again. the business.
still plays an active role in the A Workers Trust was initiated in the many happy clients that That is one of our major areas of
business. While he is considered in 2003 by Giles, an innovation Capitol Caterers can claim. success,” says Merrill. THE FUTURE
the father figure of the business, that is part of the company’s “Capital Caterers has established
a shift in management occurred ethos of empowerment. The an identity in the catering sector “We pride ourselves in Capitol Caterers is an important
in 2018. Two managing directors company transferred 21% as a family feel type business. continually striving for player in the KwaZulu-Natal
were appointed, who each focus ownership of Capitol Caterers to Every client is personalised excellence and in ensuring that economy and is proud to have its
on the contracts suited to their all staff who had been with the and every client is taken care our food is interesting, local and head office in Pietermaritzburg.
individual level of expertise. company for five or more years. of in the way they want to be relevant, but most importantly, While the company is one of the
being steadfastly mindful of our
Russell Nzimande, who has A total of 36 staff qualified to be taken care of. And this is where footprint on the environment by big five catering companies in
been with Capitol Caterers the inaugural beneficiaries of we pay attention to detail, we adhering to strict QMS and ISO South Africa, it would like to get
since its inception, as an the trust in 2003 and received a have passionate people creating practices.” its name out there more in the
assistant catering manager, pro rata share of the R116 000.00 passionate food,” says Ugashnie. future by focusing on marketing.
catering manager, area manager, dividend pay-out. In just 15 Capitol Caterers can also In addition, “We want to
operations and then as a director, years, the beneficiaries have OUR SUCCESS proudly claim their level 1 BBBEE strive for excellence in every
gaining strong experience in the grown to over 500 and now boast status. Amongst other initiatives facet of the business. At the end
management of tender based a 49% share in Capitol Caterers. “It is great to say we have obtaining and retaining this of the day the food on the plate
contracts, such as hospitals, is Every year the beneficiaries of the new contracts, but it is just as level 1 BBBEE status has must be excellent,” concluded
now the managing director for trust get dividends from the trust important to say that we have meant ensuring a strong focus Merrill. 

Russell Nzimande and Merrill King Capitol Caterers joint managing directors Capitol Caterers prides itself on striving for excellence and in ensuring that their food is interesting, local and relevant.

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