Finding information on the Internet can be a nightmare. But if you’re about to purchase new catering equipment, a new website from the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) offers a wide range of invaluable advice and information.

CESA, the trade body for catering equipment manufacturers and importers supplying the British caterer, developed the new site to answer caterers’ questions as fast and as easily as possible. There is particular emphasis on areas that caterers are most interested in - such as advice on energy saving and articles covering legislation affecting foodservice businesses.

One of the most useful sections of www.cesa.org.uk is the comprehensive series of ‘Buying Guide’ articles covering all types of catering equipment. Meanwhile the ‘CESA Energy Saver’ button links through to advice on energy saving and a product showcase of energy-saving equipment. For those who prefer their advice in print rather than online, CESA also has produced a new Buyer’s Guide, copies of which are available free while stocks last.

For foodservice consultants, planners and designers CESA offers another invaluable resource: CESA CAD. This sub-site features a wide range of CAD files, covering a huge variety of catering equipment, which users can download for free.

Choosing equipment from one of the 130 members of CESA means that the supplier adheres to the CESA Code Of Practice. This includes a commitment to fair and professional advice and the highest level of customer support - both before and after the sale. The new website includes details on all 130 members and their brands - visitors can also search by equipment type.

For more information on CESA visit www.cesa.org.uk

Hotelympia 2008. Stand N1650, London ExCeL, 17 - 21 February 2008

Finding reliable equipment is one thing. Finding someone reliable to service it can be altogether more complicated. That’s why CESA (the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association) is launching its Service Accreditation Scheme at Hotelympia 2008.

“Poorly serviced equipment is a huge issue that causes breakdown, raises health and safety concerns, wastes energy and costs caterers millions of pounds a year,” says Keith Warren of CESA. “Yet servicing remains the Cinderella area of the industry.

“The Service Accreditation Scheme is designed to put servicing right at the top of the agenda, and to give caterers in every sector, big and small, an easy way to find reliable, professional and cost-effective service providers.”

Service companies who apply to join CESA’s scheme have to comply with agreed criteria, including their staff’s level of skills and the level of service the company is delivering. Thus in order to achieve accreditation companies must provide their service engineers with appropriate facilities - such as purpose-equipped vehicles, with parts and tools capable of achieving a high ‘first time fix’ rate. If they sub-contract some of the work, they must ensure sub-contractors comply with the CESA criteria, too.

They must also confirm that they provide a fully professional solution - for example, that they have suitable insurance cover including a minimum £5million for public liability.

So what can you expect from a CESA accredited service provider? “Simply put, a reliable and professional service, supplied by an expert technician or engineer who knows about your equipment and can usually be relied on to fix it the first time he calls,” says Keith Warren.

When it comes to selecting a service programme, CESA recommends Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) schemes - they mean an engineer will call regularly to look after your equipment. “Not only does PPM help prevent breakdown, it also extends the service life of the equipment,” explains Keith Warren. Service providers accredited to the CESA scheme have to provide evidence that management systems are in place to support, control and manage your PPM contract.

CESA has created a special ‘CESA accredited service provider’ logo that service providers in the SAS scheme will be able to display.

CESA executives will be on hand at Hotelympia to explain the benefits of the scheme, both to end users and to service providers wishing to apply to join it. 

For more information on CESA visit www.cesa.org.uk