Each month we bring a different team member to the table to chat about their role, food and all things Wilson Vale. This month we spoke to Jack, one of our area managers. Before joining the Wilson Vale team, Jack trained in a 2 Michelin star kitchen in London and also lived in Australia for seven years, where he managed a hipster café and took time out to drive from Sydney to Perth in a camper van!
What does your job involve?
I currently manage all the restaurants in my sites across London, Warrington, Birmingham and the Midlands. Day-to-day, this means driving innovation by leading with a hands-on approach with new Wilson Vale concepts and initiates, building great relationships with our clients and also financial management.
What do you love about your job?
I love how every day is different. I can’t pick a specific highlight, but there is nothing better than working with our teams and seeing the amazing food and concepts they execute come to life.
What does working at Wilson Vale mean to you?
Wilson Vale has such a great reputation in the contract catering industry. They genuinely care about developing people and giving as much support as possible for employees to reach their full potential. It is also great to be working with a company that is so invested in delivering the highest quality food.
What’s your favourite food?
Savoury – a whole baked camembert (to myself!!) with lots of crusty baguette or TimTams (don’t judge me!)
What ingredient can you not live without?
Salt (I know – it’s not the most exciting answer!). Other than salt, I tend to add lime juice to more things than I probably should, so I guess that counts right?
Tell us a top tip or trick of the trade?
Make sure your knives are sharp and if you over-season add LIME JUICE!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know…
I have had my work published in a cookbook in Australia for food development with indigenous ingredients. Outside of food, I ‘YouTubed’ how to do most of the renovations in my house (except the bricklaying) and got most of it done myself in my spare time. I can also recite every word of every Cocomelon song (if you know, you know!) – thanks to it being the only show my youngest likes.
