Project Scope & Objectives

• Concept & Design: Develop a modular kitchen layout adaptable to 12 distinct retail footprints, ensuring consistent workflow, compliance with local health-and-safety regulations, and brand-level uniformity.

• Equipment Procurement: Source high-efficiency combi ovens, blast chillers, refrigeration units, and dishwashers that met both capacity and sustainability targets—while leveraging bulk-purchase discounts to reduce capital expenditure.

• Installation & Commissioning: Coordinate civil, mechanical, and electrical trades across 12 simultaneous sites, with a strict goal to have every kitchen operational within a 16-week window.

• Training & Handover: Perform on-site staff training at each location, covering equipment operation, preventive maintenance best practices, and HACCP compliance.

Challenges

1. Site Variability: Although each café followed a similar footprint, differences in ceiling heights, service corridors, and utility locations required subtle adaptations to our baseline design.

2. Aggressive Timeline: All 12 sites needed to open within four months to align with a national marketing campaign tied to a new seasonal menu launch.

3. Energy-Efficiency Goals: The client aimed to reduce overall utility consumption by at least 15% per unit compared to their existing legacy sites.

Our Solutions

• Standardized Zone Layout: We created a core “kitchen-in-a-box” concept—consisting of a receiving&storage area, dedicated prep zones (wet and dry), cooking line, plating/pass-through, and cleanup. Each module was dimensionally locked so that, regardless of minor structural differences, the workflow remained consistent.

• High-Efficiency Equipment: By specifying 10-pan Rational combi ovens (with programmable cook cycles) and energy-star–rated refrigeration units, we achieved an average 25% reduction in energy usage compared to the client’s previous sites. Blast chillers with automatic defrost features further accelerated turnaround on batch cooking.

• Simultaneous, Phased Installation: Our project managers divided the 12 sites into three clusters of four. Each cluster followed a phased calendar—site survey, demolition of legacy fixtures, installation of new MEP services, equipment rigging, and final commissioning—allowing resources to move seamlessly from one location to the next without bottlenecks.

• Hands-On Training & Handover: After each kitchen passed commissioning tests (temperature logging, gas-tightness checks, and water-flow verification), our service team spent a full day training on-site staff in efficient equipment operation, preventive maintenance, and basic troubleshooting.

Results & Impact

• On-Time Launch: All 12 cafés were fully operational within the 16-week target—allowing the client’s marketing team to roll out the seasonal menu launch without delays.

• Improved Throughput: Optimized workflow and faster cooking cycles resulted in a 20% reduction in average ticket times during peak hours. Staff reported fewer “traffic jams” between cooking and plating zones.

• Energy Savings: The combination of high-efficiency refrigeration and programmable combi ovens delivered a measured 25% decrease in monthly energy costs per site. Over the first year, this translated to an annual savings of approximately £15,000 across all 12 locations.

• Consistent Brand Experience: Customers visiting different branches reported the same speedy service and food quality, reinforcing the chain’s reputation for reliability and consistency.

Client Testimonial

“Hunter & Brown didn’t just design our kitchens—they anticipated every operational challenge before it became an issue. Their turnkey approach meant we hit our opening dates flawlessly, and our energy bills dropped more than we expected. From senior leadership to the baristas on the floor, everyone was impressed with how smoothly the rollout went.”
— Operations Director, National Café Chain

By delivering a replicable, energy-efficient kitchen platform—combined with hands-on training and rigorous project oversight—Hunter & Brown enabled National Café Chain to scale confidently, maintain brand standards, and achieve measurable cost savings from day one.