WHY IS THE CURRY INDUSTRY SO IMPORTANT?

British Bangladeshi’s have been at the forefront of contributing to British society by creating this vibrant industry- Curry has become one of Britain’s most loved cuisines. With many Bangladeshi’s arriving in Britain in the1950s -the curry house was the first stepping stone to building their futures and that of their children’s in Britain. It now stands as a symbol of pride in their history and heritage. Currently it boasts a huge industry generating over £4.1 billion for the economy. There are over 12,000 outlets in the UK. 18 tonnes of Chicken Tikka Masala are consumed every week and on average a British adult will spend £1260 a year on curry.

WHAT CAN BE DONE IMMEDIATELY?

• » Improved Health and Safety training
• » Marketing, Branding and PR including the importance of Social Media
• » Demystifying technology
• » Nurturing home grown talent with the ambition to establish Michelin star chefs

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CATERING INDUSTRY?

• » Businesses are suffering from a lack of well trained staff and the government’s strict immigration policy.
• » The Industry is being squeezed by the recession
• » Growing technology means that customer preferences and demand have changed.
• » Online ordering and competition has revolutionised the industry. Traditional curry houses are struggling to keep up with demand.

WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM PLANS FOR THE CATERING CIRCLE?

• » Making the Industry “fit for purpose”
• » Developing leadership within the Industry
• » Strengthening the relationship with the Banking sector so that businesses can expand
• » Develop training manuals promoting, supporting and encouraging training
• » To continue engagement with Ministers and politicians
• » Engage with Key Stakeholders such as suppliers
• » Create a Catering college –producing staff with excellent qualifications and training in the curry industry
• » Become global leaders – sharing best practice with others in the catering industry
• » To create an online recruitment & employment information centre

WHAT WILL ‘THE CATERING CIRCLE’ PROGRAMME SERIES PROVIDE?

• » A dedicated Road Show to identify problems and refine suggestions through active participation of caterersg
• » Feedback from the catering industry that can help formulise solutions
• » A platform for the Catering industry to discuss and address the issues
• » Live audience discussion with special episodes.
• » A selection of experts available to offer solutions exploring business models.
• » An opportunity for viewers at home to participate in the TV live discussions.
• » Examining ways for owners to sustain their businesses