Dennis McKenzie is Catering Services Manager for HES Catering, a role he has enjoyed since joining the company in December 2014. Prior to this, Dennis has worked within the catering industry for past 14 years and his career has included working as both a Finance Manager and Operations Manager in within a variety of sectors from healthcare to banking.
Favourite Food: Anything spicy
Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Angelo has lived in London for over 25 years. With more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, he has worked across a diverse range of sectors, from high-volume QSR brands to award-winning Michelin-starred restaurants.
During his time at Itsu, Wagamama, and Hoppers, Angelo gained invaluable insights into the evolving world of consumer goods and brand standards, honing his skills in strategic planning, team management, and operational efficiency.
Additionally, he gained extensive experience in multisite management at The Vietnamese Kitchen, with one of his proudest achievements being the successful launch of Truman’s Brick Lane Brews Bar at London City Airport. In his most recent role as an Operations Manager for Anglo Indian Beverage, Angelo played a key role in business development for three distinct sites and formed a partnership with the largest junior football league in Essex, LTFC.
Angelo is now excited to work with Havering and the Delish brand, contributing to the team’s mission to ensure children have access to balanced meals that enhance their focus, energy levels, and overall academic performance.
South African-born Sesh studied Catering Management in South Africa for 3 years. As a qualified chef, Sesh moved to London to work at the London Hilton on Park Lane where he honed his skills cooking at a high level. Sesh thereafter spent 16 years working for a pub company. Starting off as Head Chef in a bespoke hotel, Sesh then took a post as a trainer training kitchen team members in pubs, hotels and restaurants across 850 managed businesses. In 2019, Sesh joined the public sector.
I have witnessed the food scene truly evolve over the decades in terms of exciting influences from around the world. With the focus very much on healthy eating together with the climate crisis and our carbon footprint, I am excited to be part of the food evolution especially in school catering.
Favourite Quote “Life doesn’t get easier, you get better.”
Mandy has worked for HES Catering for almost 20 years. Mandy started as a casual staff member, then gained a permanent position firstly as a relief supervisor and then as a school based supervisor. Mandy has seen the business move from ‘turkey twizzler’ days to healthy eating. From this experience Mandy is a firm believer that every child should have a healthy lunch.
The role has been rewarding. It has provided a suitable fit for family life whilst evolving into a full career. Being based in a school for 10 years, Mandy acquired a sound knowledge of all areas within the kitchen. This has held Mandy in good standing to take up the role of Area Supervisor for seven years, working together with the area manager to support 23 primary schools. Mandy has taken this experience to move forward in her new role as Area Catering Operations Manager in Aug 2015.
Before taking up the role with HES Catering, Sherry worked as a kitchen supervisor at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for five years. This lead to Sherry taking up the role of a float cook supervisor for Havering 15 years ago. After this, Sherry moved onto Harold Wood, before taking up the mantle of supervisor at Brookside Primary School for nine years. From there, Sherry moved onto Royal Liberty Secondary School as Chef Manager, which included running ‘Hospitality Plus’ which is a buffet service provided throughout the borough.
With all of this experience, Sherry brings excellent knowledge and expertise to her role as Area Catering Operations Manager for the central area.
Denise has 35 years experience in the catering industry. She qualified as a chef in 1986 after a two year course at Westminster College. Six years later she qualified as a baker.
Denise has taken on a number of roles working as a Catering Manager at the London County Court, Area Manager for 3 large secondary schools in Kensington and Chelsea and three of the Department of Transport sites in London, Victoria. In her previous role she worked her way up from a Chef Manager to a Training and Personnel Manager, while completing a degree in Human Resources.
Denise returned to a position in Area Management in June 2021 as she missed working operationally in the kitchens.
“I have always had a love and passion for food”
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