Marie Christine Lefebvre, Secretary-General of FERCO since 1992, sadly passed away on Saturday 29 October 2011

Marie Christine Lefebvre, Secretary-General of FERCO since 1992, sadly passed away on Saturday 29 October 2011. FERCO’s board, members and extended network greatly regret this loss. Marie Christine shall be remembered as a wonderful person, an outstanding professional and a dear colleague. Her dedication to FERCO and her enthusiasm and professionalism in representing the interests of the contract catering sector at EU level were enormously appreciated, and as a dear friend Marie Christine will be missed immensely.

Launch of the Online Training Tool “Food Hygiene Training for All”

5 October 201

The EU social partners in the contract catering sector, EFFAT (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions) and FERCO (European Federation of Contract Catering Organisations) have launched a basic online training tool for first level workers handling food in the contract catering sector across Europe, after joint initiatives for a more socially responsible awarding of contracts in the contract catering sector.

Aware that food safety is an important issue for EU consumers and that food hygiene is a key skill in the contract catering sector, EFFAT and FERCO have decided to jointly carry out the project “Food Hygiene Training for All” to create an online training tool for the industry.

This EU wide training tool is accessible online free of charge. It seeks to provide a qualification for workers in the contract catering sector, aiming to offer an innovative food hygiene training opportunity to first level food handlers.

Please find more information here (PDF download).

A new Vice-President for FERCO

On 31 May 2011, the FERCO GA elected Alastair Storey as Vice-President.

Since 2004, Alastair STOREY is Chairman and CEO of WSH Group and BaxterStorey Ltd, the UK’s leading independent food service provider. He joined the catering business in 1975 as a trainee at Sutcliffe Catering. In 1993, he was appointed Regional Managing Director Sutcliffe South East. In 1996, he joined Granada as Managing Director Food Services. In 2000, he left Granada with Keith Wilson to set up an independent contract and retail catering business. He established the Wilson Storey Halliday (WSH) Group with the acquisition of Halliday Catering Services. He formed BaxterStorey with the merger of WSH and BaxterSmith in 2004.

Alastair STOREY holds a BA in Hotel and Catering Management and has further qualifications from leading institutions, including Harvard Business School.