New program on the menu for local hospitality businesses

Local hospitality businesses can register for a free program packed with real industry expertise: from smarter menu design and waste reduction to team management and financial clarity.

Council is aiming to work with up to 40 businesses in the Crunch Hospo program this year.

The new coaching program comes on the back of a successful Crunch Time event on 25 August, which welcomed a capacity crowd to Samesyn in Torquay.

Surf Coast hospitality leaders Matt Germanchis (Executive Chef at Totti’s, Lorne Hotel), Graham Jefferies (zero-waste chef and owner of Samesyn) and Jason Gugliotti (entrepreneur behind Pollo, Ela & Greenbay) shared the changes they’ve made in their kitchens, and the results they’re seeing.

The Crunch event and program were developed in direct response to feedback from local businesses, via our 2024 Business Insights Survey.

Food businesses told us they wanted to be more sustainable, but that they were struggling with cost pressures and time constraints. While composting and organic waste separation are often promoted as solutions, many local businesses raised concerns about the costs, logistics and lack of infrastructure in the short term.

At a critical time for the hospitality industry, this initiative offers our local businesses the tools to boost their bottom line without compromising on quality, creativity, or customer experience.

Register your interest in the Crunch Hospo program.

To stay across our upcoming Better Business Skills workshops and events, follow @SurfCoastBusinessCollective on social media.