Dominic Ricciardi
A CAREER IN CATERING
About Dominic Ricciardi
Hi, my name is Dominic Ricciardi and welcome to my wix site!
This will be my place to write all about my long career in catering. With over twenty years in the industry, I certainly have a lot of stories to tell.
My journey in the industry really began over twenty years ago, back in the April of 1996, when I set up a company called Caterquip to supply second-hand and reconditioned catering equipment.
Since then, despite a few bumps in the road, the business has grown over the years to become the largest supplier of second-hand catering equipment in the whole of the UK!
This success is something which we at Caterquip are all very proud of, and as much as I would like to claim all the credit for it, the fact is that every successful business needs good employees, and this is definitely something which we have at Caterquip in the form of our hard working and dedicated team members.
Another crucial factor in our success is the fact that we're often able to provide 'as-new' quality goods for up to 60% off their usual retail prices.
Some of our equipment is only 6 months old, as it is stock that has come from the recent liquidations of other companies, meaning that our customers can get premium quality goods for near bargain-basement prices. Now that's a recipe for business success and customer satisfaction if ever I've heard one!
From our base in the Cambridgeshire city of Peterborough, we supply clients from all over the UK, working with a variety of businesses including; schools, colleges, hotel groups, fast food restaurants, holiday resorts, hospitals and many more.
Our clients have included such household name brands as Mcdonalds Restaurants, P&O Ferries, the Royal Opera House, Corus Hotels and PGL Travel.
It's always an honour to work with companies of such scale and success, and it's usually very valuable too. Just seeing first-hand, at close quarters, how they operate is a real eye-opener, and I always come away with new insights and new ideas on how to increase efficiency and grow my own business.
In fact, I'd even say that my experiences with these corporate giants has given me the drive and determination to one day grow my own companies to somewhere near the sizes they've reached.
Yes, it'll be difficult, and in truth, it's not likely to happen, but there's nothing wrong with being ambitious, and if I shoot for the stars but reach the moon, have I really failed?
One of the reasons Caterquip has been successful up to now is our ability to tailor our services to each individual client, depending on what they need.
For example, our range of products is huge; we offer over 800 catering appliances, from combination ovens to refrigeration equipment, extractor fans, stainless steel tables and many more.
This means that whatever equipment our client needs, we can provide it for them. Crucially though, we're able to combine our large and varied inventory of stock with high quality service.
We know how important good customer service is, and we pride ourself on delivering it. At Caterquip, all of our reconditioned equipment is deep cleaned, tested, and serviced to the highest standards by our trained professionals, eliminating any risk and guaranteeing only the best quality for our customers. All of our appliances are sold with a three-month parts and labour warranty for added peace of mind.
We also provide a fast delivery service and aim to dispatch orders within 24 hours of their being placed.
All of us here at Caterquip consider our dedication to great customer service to be a crucial part of our continued success over the years.
Obviously though, hearing about our service levels from some of our satisfied customers will be more useful than simply taking my word for it, so let's see what a few of our previous clients say about us:
We were thrilled with the quality of the installation and the exceptional service we received from the Caterquip team. They managed the project efficiently from the design process to right through to the installation of the equipment, and delivered the project within the appointed timescale and budget.
Caterquip fully understood our requirements in terms of our catering operation, and communicated clearly at every step. The kitchen design was expertly planned, with careful consideration given to each area. The space was transformed into a fully-functional kitchen which would allow our kitchen staff to work with ease.
We saved thousands of pounds by using Caterquip’s services, and are still delighted with our kitchen. The pre-owned equipment supplied was not only cost-effective but in excellent condition and able to perform well under the strains of a busy commercial kitchen. We will certainly use Caterquip’s services again in future.
Richard Redmond – Royalblue Executive Services 2013
Dear Sirs,
Having, over the last 25 years dealt with numerous suppliers of catering equipment, I can honestly say that your company has provided an efficient, reliable and courteous service. Your ongoing future success in this industry is, I am convinced, assured. I and my staff will always recommend your excellent and competitive services. Thanks you for your all help.
Andy Cottingham – The Silver Hind, Lymington 2012
Dominic,
May I take this opportunity to say thank you to you and your team for the quality of service and most helpful way in which you have assisted Hillside Foods in our search for catering equipment. We appreciate your support and for going the extra mile to help us over recent weeks
Thank you and best regards,
Will Allan – Hillside Speciality Foods Ltd, 2012
I always thought dealing with a reconditioned equipment supplier would bring me nothing but problems…That’s until I contacted Caterquip UK.
They were recommended to me by a friend, and I can honestly say that they really deliver a high quality and affordable alternative to buying new. I can’t recommend them enough – their service is great, they deliver on their promises, and they really do have good quality equipment at fantastic prices.
Ed Baines – Restaurateur and TV Chef
Testimonials like these from previous clients mean the world to us, because they let us know that we've been able to provide them with exactly what we've intended to; namely, top-quality catering equipment at a price point that's substantially less than the usual retail cost, topped off with excellent customer service which is personalised to each client, and ongoing until the client is satisfied.
If all this has piqued your interest about Caterquip, the world of catering in general, or even about me, Dominic Ricciardi, specifically, then be sure to check back here every now and again, as this wix site is where I'll be publishing regular updates about how things are going at Caterquip, and what I'm looking to achieve next in my life.
Thanks for visiting my website, I hope to see you again soon.
Wishing you all the best,
Blog Posts By Dominic Ricciardi
