Centennial College is launching a unique program in kitchen management that promises to supply Canada's expanding food service industry with the kind of expertise employers are looking for.

The one-year Kitchen Manager program differs from the plethora of chef training programs out there because a large proportion of Canada's 63,000 restaurants don't hire chefs, but rather kitchen managers, who work with a set menu and predetermined suppliers.

“Major restaurant chains have menus determined by corporate head office. These popular restaurants need people with kitchen management skills, rather than chef training,” says program coordinator Gary Robinson. “Chefs aren't likely to be happy working in these places because they would find it repetitious and the tasks wouldn't challenge their creativity.”

Centennial’s hospitality faculty came up with the concept, which was enthusiastically received by such industry leaders as Keg Restaurants, Cara, Prime Restaurants and SIR Corp. The two-semester certificate program will cover current business practices in accounting, purchasing, human resources, supervision and cost control.

In addition to valuable lab time in the college’s Hospitality Management Centre, students will be given work placement two days a week in the second semester. “Participating restaurants will likely offer students weekend employment opportunities, as well,” Robinson says.

Statistics Canada reports that the restaurant industry employs some 435,000 people, making it one of the largest sectors in the country. Centennial's graduates will be certified in the Smart Serve program and the National Sanitation Training certificate as part of the learning outcomes.

Centennial's new program puts an emphasis on kitchen business practices such as purchasing and human resources, rather than culinary skills.

Classes commence next fall, pending Ministry approval. Applicants are encouraged to apply now.

Centennial College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is a post-secondary institution created for today's world - honouring the classic academic traditions of the world's best colleges and universities, but designed expressly for the 21st century student.

Centennial College
P.O. Box 631, Station A
Toronto,  Ontario   M1K 5E9
Canada

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