Shaun Searley of The Quality Chop House: “Let’s get KPs into the appreciation loop!”

KP of the Year 2015 gathers pace – big prizes include £1,000 and a Winterhalter warewasher

The search for the 2015 KP of the Year Award is now in full swing, with entries from across the foodservice industry, including restaurants, schools, pubs, hotels and hospitals.  The award, which is the brainchild of warewash equipment specialist Winterhalter, is designed to celebrate the contribution kitchen porters make to the foodservice industry.

Each year top chefs add their weight to the cause – the latest being Shaun Searley of The Quality Chop House.  “Many people don’t understand what kitchen porters go through on a daily basis,” he says.  “They are so often left out of the appreciation loop. We need to show that appreciation – KPs are a really integral cog in the make-up of a restaurant.”

This year the prizes include £1,000 cash for the winner, plus a celebratory meal, plus a Winterhalter machine for their establishment.  There are cash prizes for the two runners up, too.

A big supporter of the KP of the Year Award, Shaun reckons the industry needs to buck up its ideas when it comes to KPs.  “It’s our job as chefs and waiters to show our respect and include them in everything we do,” he says.

Nominate your KP at www.kpoftheyear.com – the online form should only take a few minutes to complete.

The prizes for 2015 are £1,000 cash for the winner, plus a celebratory meal for them and their friends, plus a Winterhalter warewasher worth up to £8,000; plus £250 cash each for two runners up.  In addition, Winterhalter is offering a prize to every single KP who is nominated, in the form of a special KPotY Oliver Harvey presentation tin and apron.

For the latest interviews and videos on the KP of the Year visit the video gallery at www.kpoftheyear.com.