Sitting at my desk, in the beautiful office that we moved into six months ago, looking out of the window, watching the swans swimming on the lake and the leaves on the trees turning to autumnal shades of golden, yellow and orange, it is incredible to think that Eat PR is only a matter of days away from turning three.
So much has happened over the past twelve months. Our extraordinary team has grown from four to seven; our client portfolio has virtually doubled, we’ve been lucky enough to meet some truly inspiring chefs, operators and business owners, we’ve delivered our services on an international stage, we’ve helped raise thousands for good causes and we’ve moved into a new, bigger office at our home at the idyllic Glove Factory Studios in Wiltshire.
As any business owner will know, running a business has its challenges, but looking back at this year my overriding feeling is one of pride. Pride in the work we do, pride in the clients we partner with, pride in the reputation we’ve developed but more than anything, pride for working in the wonderful world of hospitality. As a profession, foodservice and hospitality get their fair share of stick. Yes, a little is deserved, but so much is not. I recently read an article in one of the country’s leading newspapers about how British hospitality is inept and lacking professionalism – I could not disagree more vehemently with this sentiment. In my view, hospitality is a profession that gives so many opportunities to so many people. One that impacts almost every person, in all walks of life, virtually every day. The Eat PR & Marketing team are fortunate to function at the heart of this sector… working for suppliers, partnering with associations and ultimately helping operators to deliver the best food and drink to their customers.
This year, we’ve been fortunate to visit SIGEP, the world-famous event for gelato, pastry, chocolate and coffee in Rimini, Italy. We’ve spent time at the UK’s best restaurant, Ynyshir, with internationally renowned Chef Patron, Gareth Ward. We’ve celebrated the industry’s future stars at a glamourous awards ceremony at Claridge’s in London. We’ve joined clients as they take customers to manufacturing facilities in Italy and Sweden. We’ve even been part of the team to carry a full-size combi oven up Ben Nevis, raising more than £22,000 for charity in the process. What a year it has been.
We’ve continued to work with many of the wonderful clients who put their trust in us over the first two years while simultaneously being appointed by others, all of whom have come to us through recommendations or by seeing the great work that our team does daily. While I’m delighted to be working with each and every one of our clients, there is one appointment that really stands out for me – that of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA). As the country’s leading professional membership association for head chefs, head pastry chefs and restaurant managers, RACA not only aims to uphold the very best of the profession but also supports, champions and progresses the talent of tomorrow. To be able to partner with Lisa, Adam and the team at RACA is both a huge privilege and a true honour.
None of this could be possible without the dedication and commitment of the Eat PR team – to whom I owe a huge amount of gratitude. While still a relativity small at just seven of us, the passion and enthusiasm for our clients, our industry and the work we do is second to none. This is reflected in our reputation and is something that makes me incredibly proud daily. While we’re celebrating our third birthday, we remain a relatively young agency but given our reputation, our contacts and connections, our experience and our reputation, we are seen as a trusted and respected PR and marketing agency. My sincere thanks go to my extraordinary team and all they do.
This time last year we proudly unveiled our new logo – one that truly represented us as a business. Twelve months on and I’m delighted to launch Eat PR’s brand-new website. A sleek and professional window to the world of Eat PR & Marketing, the new website demonstrates our passion and knowledge of foodservice communication – I hope you agree that it’s a great statement of us as a business.
Looking forward to the next year, I’m genuinely excited about the opportunities we have, the projects that we’re working on and the way that I know our team will continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients in 2025. All that is left for me to say is thank you to each and every person who has been with us on our journey so far.
Andy Taylor
Founder of Eat PR
