CATERING FOR ASTUTE TASTES

CURRENT STATUS

Jerry O'Sullivan, Managing Director, Caterassist

Years in Business: Began in Kerry in 2001, opened in Galway in the same year, Waterford in 2003 and Laois in 2006 Employee Numbers: Currently 9 staff Client Numbers: 797 Turnover: Increased turnover by 80% each year

KEY CONTACTS

Caterassist Kerry T: +353 (0)64 39677 E:kerry@caterassist.com Caterassist Galway T: +353 (0)95 22280 E:galway@caterassist.com Caterassist Waterford T: +353 (0)87 6110333 E:waterford@caterassist.com Caterassist Laois T: +353 (0)57 8679099 E:laois@caterassist.com

Witty, sarcastic, yet honest and constantly striving to be different With his opinions is how Jerry o’Sullivan describes himself. Niamh MacSweeney reports.

Caterassist was conceived by Jerry O’Sullivan in 2001. Having worked in the hospitality industry since the tender age of 14, for various employers in both in Ireland and worldwide, he decided it was time to set up his own business. “Caterassist was set up as a professional service provider offering an array of services under the one company, specialising for hospitality and food retail clients,” he says.

O’Sullivan admits that from a young age he experienced responsibility. From head chef of a 100 bedroom hotel aged 20, to catering manager with international contract caterers, Sodexho, O’Sullivan swiftly and confidently worked his way up the career ladder. So it was only natural that the next step would be to make his dream a reality and set up his own business.

Major Assets

“The main objective of Caterassist is to deliver a professional service to the hospitality and food retail industry under our five divisions of consultancy, recruitment, training, HACCP and auditing,” he explains.

He maintains that the success of the company lies in the ethos of being direct and knowledgeable about the services he provides. “All my team are carefully selected by me, are chosen on their experience to date and what they can bring to the company. Again my major assets are my staff as we are in a service industry,” he says.

Surviving in this competitive sector has not been easy and O’Sullivan aggress that growing the company and creating a recognised brand right across the business has been a major challenge. “Starting from a one man operation in 2001 with a desk, PC, printer and filing cabinet to where we are today, I feel I have grown the company and sustained consistency, which is our number one priority.

Hard Knocks

To his own admission O’Sullivan describes his entrepreneurial spirit as “creative, aggressive, demanding high standards, consistent, interested and firm but fair.”

He acknowledges that he never received financial support from any authority or agency, but that was not through the lack of trying. “Yes I did knock on doors and got refused. Some said there were others out there; others said it was very competitive market. Through sheer determination and hard work and more importantly my love for the industry, catapulted me to success. I feel from not receiving help made me more adamant to be successful,” he declares.

Supporting Local Business

Like every business, planning is crucial and Caterassist is no different. However O’Sullivan also recognises the importance of branding, marketing strategies and of course generating profits. “I have learnt many lessons; the main one is having adequate cash flow. Cash flow is the blood of the business, no cash flow you die,” he says. He is also aware of the need to support indigenous business. ”We support where possible all indigenous business that are on our back door. I also believe in giving back something to the people or clients that support Caterassist, which could be through Caterassist recognition, recommendation or referral.”

Future Ambitions

O’Sullivan is acutely aware of the need to be innovative and to re-invent the business in a competitive and changing sector. “I believe that you have to be creative and reinvent yourself every few years to keep the company fresh, to develop new ideas, to start something different.” One way he envisages moving the business forward is to bring the first food safety academy to Ireland and according to this determined entrepreneur it doesn’t stop there. “I am also working on a project, which if time prevails will be another first for Ireland. At Caterassist we are original, others may copy us, but we set the standards for others to follow,” he concludes.