If this pandemic has highlighted anything, it’s that agility and flexibility is fundamental to weathering business disruption. It is a testament to our highly experienced team, that we were able to pivot the business so quickly, to provide our clients with a new range of delivery options, they found themselves requiring.

We have always seen ourselves as a partner, rather than a business providing a service to clients and during the pandemic, this principle has stood us in good stead. We have worked tirelessly with our clients, to get their restaurants up and running as safely as possibly, while adhering to Covid19 guidelines. Continuing this close collaboration and nurturing those ever-stronger client relationships, will be key in 2021.

We are big fans of technology and were able to make rapid adaptations, which I believe gave us the edge, in the mouth of what has been a very uncertain business landscape, for many companies in our sector.

To reduce staff contact, we have implemented online, pre-order menus and cashless, self-serve retail where possible. We are exploring new vending solutions including air touch technology, which means the user can select the product they want from a distance of up to 2cm from the surface of the selection panel, thus avoiding contact.

We believe workplace and inhouse restaurants are central to the daily working lives of employees, as hubs where they can socialise with their team and take a break from the stresses of their workload. Obviously, this has had to be restricted to adhere to Covid19 regulations and we have worked hard to re-purpose our clients’ restaurant spaces, to accommodate safer places for their staff to eat. Table service has been introduced, alongside dining pods, queue management, signage, sanitising solutions and touch point cleaning, which will remain for the foreseeable future.

Service times are driven by staff patterns on site and our clients’ needs. For those who would prefer to remain at their desk, food deliveries are made to them and Grab & Go solutions have been increased so that staff can quickly pick up pre-ordered, pre-packed meals and snacks, to avoid queuing.

Health and well-being is another growing focus within our contracts, and we see this trend rising. The pandemic has given people time to reflect on their well-being and mental health and they are increasingly making the link between good food and good health.

We have always championed provenance and our local suppliers, to ensure that our customers know their food journey. We don’t have to look far for the world’s best ingredients and the quality and freshness of our food starts with our ongoing commitment to support local Irish suppliers.

Diversification of our services will continue to be paramount to our success. Our contract catering division is reinforced by our cleaning, vending, security and facilities management divisions, covering business, industry, retail, education, government and healthcare organisations across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

A major element of our future growth will be further expansion into the Republic of Ireland and what gives us great heart, is that despite the situation, Mount Charles is winning and mobilising contracts.

Just recently we announced a substantial new contract in Miesian Plaza, Dublin, to provide catering services to all occupants situated over the building’s seven floors, including the Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance.

While we haven’t seen the last of coronavirus and its impact just yet, I am confident that in the latter half of 2021, we will begin to see life returning to an even ‘better’ normal.