EP #8: From Sandwiches to the C-Suite: Catharine Barras on Leadership, Global Contracts, and the Future of Food Service
She started by making sandwiches at 5am. Now she leads global strategy for Sodexo. In this wide-ranging conversation, Catharine Barras shares career lessons, food tech trends, and her predictions for how we’ll eat and work in 2035.“If you don’t put your hand up, you’ll never be recognised.” - Catharine Barras.In episode 8 of Served., we sat down with Catharine Barras, Global COO for Strategic Accounts at Sodexo, to explore her leadership journey across continents and companies.We cover:Her rise from bar shifts to boardroomsThe reality of being a female exec in a male-dominated industryGlobal vs local catering modelsHow tech, AI, and dark kitchens are reshaping corporate food serviceAnd what 2035 might look like for the next generation of eaters, chefs, and clientsInsightful, grounded, and refreshingly forward-looking - this episode is a must-read (and must-watch).
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EP #7: Making ESG Pay Off: Turning Operational Challenges Into ESG Gold by Gina Camfield from Aramark
Welcome back to Served., where we dig into the ideas shaping the future of foodservice. This week, we’re talking about ESG, not as a PR exercise, but as a serious lever for performance in contract catering. Eline Henriksen caught up with Gina Camfield , Head of ESG at Aramark UK & Global Offshore, to find out what it really looks like when sustainability is part of the business model. From cutting food waste across hundreds of kitchens to turning social impact into measurable value, this is ESG with substance, not slogans.
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EP #6: More Than Just a Free Coffee: Why Contract Caterers Need Loyalty by George Gee - The Mastermind behind the Costa Loyalty Programme
Welcome back to another edition of Served., where we explore ideas shaping the future of foodservice. This week, we’re diving into a core ingredient of sustainable growth in contract catering: loyalty. Toby Bonnett sat down with George Gee (CLMP™) - widely known as The Loyalty Man - to unpack what truly drives customer loyalty, what most schemes get wrong, and how contract caterers can unlock meaningful, measurable engagement.
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EP #4: Behind the Bid: What Really Wins Catering Tenders in 2025
Tenders shape the future of contract catering. They determine who gets to serve food the food, and create experiences in offices, universities, and public institutions across the globe, but what actually matters when the decision of catering company is to be made?To dive deeper into this, we spoke with three experienced consultants in the industry - people who’ve sat through hundreds of tender presentations, advised some of the world’s biggest clients across both the U.S., UK, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and know exactly why some bids stand out while others fall flat.
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EP #3: The Evolution of Contract Catering: Insights from Chis Chidley from Compass Group on the APAC market
In this episode of Served., we had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris Chidley, Chief Commercial Officer for Compass Group in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. With over two decades in the industry - 17 of those years spent in the UK before moving to APAC - Chris has seen the industry change and adapt in many ways.Asia is the fastest-growing market for Contract Catering, with expectations for continued expansion in the coming years. The demand for workplace dining solutions is increasing rapidly, driven by economic growth, urbanization, and a strong emphasis on food culture across the region.From the growing focus on workplace dining to the role of technology and sustainability, our conversation covered the differences between Europe and Asia-Pacific, the future of catering, and what it takes to build a strong career in this business.
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