In March 2015, we moved our catering operation in-house and recruited an experienced Head of Catering and Head Chef to lead our new operation.
In June 2015, the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) from Derby City Council visited the Club. Having achieved a 4 star Food Hygiene Rating in 2014 under previous management, our new management team achieved a 1 star Food Hygiene Rating which means “major improvement required”.
This was clearly unacceptable and I am sorry that this specific area of the Club at the time fell below the high standards we have set ourselves.
We’re committed to making sure everyone’s visit to the Club is safe and comfortable and we know that the issues highlighted in the EHO report – which focus primarily on inadequate management processes, paperwork, policies and procedures – could have undermined our ability to deliver against this promise.
Following the EHO’s report, we conducted a thorough investigation. We have already recruited a replacement management team including a new Head of Catering, a new Head Chef and a specialist Environmental Health consultant. The new team have already introduced improved food management processes and paperwork, and we are investing more resources in equipment and maintenance.
The whole team have worked exceptionally hard to resolve the issues and we are confident that everything we have put in place since the inspection in June addresses the key issues and will ensure that we achieve a higher score at the next inspection. We are also confident that the new catering management team are able to provide improved food menus and better service at good value prices and the full benefits of this will be seen and tasted next season.
Having invested £1million in our facilities last winter to provide improved player changing rooms and refurbished Members Lounge, we will be doing further work as part of our £2million Phase Two ground development project to further improve our Club facilities. As well as a new Media Centre, we will be converting the former home and away changing rooms in the 3aaa Pavilion into an additional lounge. We also have plans for better toilet facilities and to improve the public address system.
Maintaining the trust of our Members and supporters is critical as we work to increase our off-field revenues so we can continue to invest in the development of our playing squad and coaches. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the Club moves forward on and off the field and I thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Storey
