The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has been named Queensland’s Best Caterer at this year’s Restaurant & Catering Queensland Awards for Excellence, for the sixth time since first entering the awards 10 years ago.

 

The Centre, a previous winner of national Restaurant & Catering Awards, received the major accolades of Best Function/Convention Centre Caterer for Queensland and Queensland Caterer of the Year 2009. The centre will now compete for Restaurant & Catering Australia National Awards in Canberra in October.

 

These latest awards bring to an impressive 46, the centre’s total number of catering awards with 107 industry awards overall.

 

Convention centre general manager, Robert O’Keeffe said the mantle of Best Caterer is at the very heart of the centre’s operational reputation and provides an important showcase for standards of industry excellence and professional performance.

 

“The quality and standard of our Food & Beverage product is a significant factor in the centre maintaining its leadership position in what is a very competitive marketplace”, he said

 

The centre has earned an unequalled reputation for innovation and creativity where its menus are concerned and this latest culinary recognition follows the success of yet another innovation – the introduction of organic and sustainable produce to the current menu selection.

 

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre executive chef, Martin Latter said ‘going organic’ was a response to changes in consumer lifestyles and attitudes and evolved from ongoing feedback from clients. “We are a great supporter of fresh, local produce and researching and sourcing organic suppliers was the obvious next step. I love the traceability of organics – it’s important for what we do to know that the produce is top quality and produced in the right environment.”

 

The centre also serves coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms which are managed to high social and environmental standards aligning with the Centre’s commitment and approach to social and environmental work practices.