Winterhalter names Mollie's Motels’ kitchen porter as 2024 KP of the
Year
Winterhalter has revealed this
year’s winner of the Kitchen Porter of the Year award: he is Marito Pires De
Sousa, who works at Mollie’s Motel in Oxfordshire. This
is the competition’s tenth year, and Stephen Kinkead, managing director of
Winterhalter UK, said of the 2024 event, “The bar has definitely
increased. Entrants who would previously
have been a very highly commended are now standard. Which makes Marito’s achievement all the
greater – huge congratulations to him.”
What does it take to be the
best? Trudi Parr, head of people and
development at Mollie’s, nominated Marito.
She describes him as having had an ‘extraordinary impact on our operation.’ His approach means that, even during peak
times, such as a 650-cover Saturday, the kitchen runs smoothly, efficiently and
with ‘happy energy.’ He’s an innovator:
he mastered and implemented the ‘cockpit theory’ of kitchen portering,
optimising the setup, shelving, and workflow of this bustling restaurant
environment.
“What sets Marito apart is his
infectious joy and unwavering support for the entire team,” she said. “Marito is a beacon of positivity, he lifts
spirits, and his cheerful greeting of "Morning, Cheffy!” makes everyone
grin.
“I was at Paddington station when I
got the call that he had won and I screamed. Everybody at the station probably
thought, what on earth is going on? It
made me so emotional. He is such a
wonderful guy. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
The KP of the Year judges were also
impressed by Marito’s skill in engaging young team members and those with SEND,
helping them find joy and confidence in their roles, often their first job. “His
training style is encouraging and fun, making even the hardest tasks manageable,”
Trudi said.
On receiving his award Marito said,
“I’m so happy! I love my job and Mollie’s. I love the team and working
together.” Along with the prestigious
KP of the Year trophy, Marito will receive £1000 in vouchers and a celebratory
meal for friends and family in a casual dining restaurant of their choice. Meanwhile his win means that Mollie’s will
get a piece of Winterhalter equipment worth up to £10,000 – which in turn
should make his life that bit easier!
Stephen Kinkead adds, “Marito is
such a worthy winner. I get emotional
every time I present the award. You speak to any chef – the kitchen porter is
their right hand. Without them it doesn’t work. They’re worth their weight in
gold.”
One of the KP of the Year judges
was Matthew Marshall of the RAC Club. He
said, “The winners and the runners up were phenomenal.” Dominic Teague of One Aldwych agreed, adding
that Marito is “a truly worthy winner.”
The quality of entries is
emphasised by the two highly commended runners up, who are Austin Ottolorin, of
BM Caterers, and Leszek Dajnowicz, of The Belfry Hotel & Resort. Austin is described as nothing less than ‘a
legend’ by his nominator, group executive chef Russell Watt, who said “He has
created a legacy that would be incredibly difficult to replace.” Meanwhile Leszek’s nominator, executive chef
Robert Bates, described him as a ‘dedicated leader’ who makes a ‘positive
impact on the whole resort.’ “Austin’s
combination of professional excellence and personal warmth truly sets him apart
from the crowd,” he added.
Both runners up receive vouchers to
hospitality experiences, and every KP of the Year nominee receives a bespoke KP
of the Year apron, designed by Oliver Hardy.
For information about the KP of the
Year award, visit www.kpoftheyear.com
Winterhalter provides a total
solution for dishwashing and glasswashing, from pre-sales advice to after-sales
service, training and maintenance, with sustainability fitted as standard. Alongside its market-leading dish washers and
glass washers, the company’s range includes utensil washers, advanced water
treatment machines, and cleaning detergents and rinse aids. For further details, call Winterhalter on
01908 359000, visit www.winterhalter.com/uk-en/or email info@winterhalter.co.uk.
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