Christmas guilt for 40% of those working in the hospitality industry

Bidfood call for Christmas Gift nominations to give Christmas back to hospitality workers

With 93.4% of hospitality workers accepting there is a chance they will need to work Christmas or Boxing Day[1], it’s no surprise that 40% admitted to feeling guilty about not spending the festive period with their families.[2] The new research from Bidfood also revealed that 45.5% of the 750 hospitality workers surveyed, felt a sense of community with colleagues also working on Christmas or Boxing Day.[3] To reward those who work over the festive period, Bidfood’s Christmas Gift campaign is back for another year, but this time with an exciting twist. The campaign, which scooped a PRCA Dare award earlier this year, recognises those who sacrifice spending Christmas with their families to make the holiday season special for others. However, this year Bidfood will be wishing the wholesale foods industry a ‘Merry Missedmas’ by extending nominations outside of its customer base to make it industry-wide. Bidfood is calling on the industry to nominate** individuals in their outlets who are either working Christmas Day or Boxing Day this year (and/or worked last year), that go the extra mile to make the festive period special for thousands of others. Winners will be chosen via a panel of leading influencers from across the industry - including Bidfood’s Group Sales & Marketing Director, Andy Kemp; Anne Pierce, Chief Executive at Springboard; Peter Hancock, Chief Executive at Pride of Britain Hotels; Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive at UK Hospitality, Mark Lewis Chief Executive of Hospitality Action, Julia Sibley MB, Chief Executive, The Savoy Educational Trust; and Andy Jones, Chair of the Public Sector 100 Group to name a few. Four winners will be revealed on Monday, 3^rd December across the below categories, and each will receive Christmas dinner with all the trimmings from Bidfood in January, once the busy period has passed, as well as a surprise gift. Categories include:

• • Accommodation: hotels, B&B’s, hostels, pubs with accommodation etc.
  • Care: hospitals, care homes, hospices etc.
  • Foodie outlets: restaurants, pubs, cafes , bars etc. (includes QSR and B&I)
  • Charities/other: includes charities and schools/universities

Bidfood’s Group Sales & Marketing Director, Andy Kemp says: “Following the overwhelming success of last year, we are delighted to announce the return of our award-winning, Bidfood’s Christmas Gift campaign. “The sheer volume of heart-warming stories we received last year is testament to the hard work and importance the hospitality sector has on all of us. “With thousands giving up family time in the lead up, and often on Christmas Day itself. We want to hear about some of the standout individuals in our industry and thank them for their contribution. “This year, we are really excited to be opening nominations up industry-wide, encouraging not only our customers, but anyone who works within hospitality and is serving or preparing food and drink on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.” Entries are open from Monday 15 October to midnight on Monday 12 November and can be made online at www.bidfood.co.uk/bidfood-christmas-gift. **Entries are open to those individuals that work in outlets who are involved in the preparation or serving of food and beverages. Full terms and conditions will be listed on the website once voting goes live.

#BidfoodChristmasGift

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[1] Survey of 750 respondents conducted by 3GEM on behalf of Bidfood (September 2018) [2] Survey of 750 respondents conducted by 3GEM on behalf of Bidfood (September 2018) [3] Survey of 750 respondents conducted by 3GEM on behalf of Bidfood (September 2018)