A long term Client of ours, approached us in 2015 for our support in creating the best possible foodservice offer, at one of their business parks located in Milton Keynes, Caldecotte Lake. Having already advised on foodservice for the Client on another business park, Croxley Green, we were very happy to continue our relationship with them to help deliver a foodservice offer that maximises the appeal of the park and increases Tenant satisfaction at the minimum possible cost to the Landlord or Service Charge.

Our vision for Caldecotte Lake Business Park was to create a welcoming, yet quality, foodservice offer, which offered a mixture of grab-and-go and comfortable daytime dining. We were instructed to provide the entire foodservice strategy and delivery of the foodservice offer, which included a review of the competing foodservice offers, a turnover assessment and then a foodservice strategy in terms of where foodservice should be located, what the offer should be and the size of the offer. We concluded our advice by detailing the concept, which included a detailed outline equipment list and headline costs of the development for the Client.

Following our strategy we also lead an open and competitive Tender process to find a new operator for the Café space. After receiving multiple competitive bids we worked with the Client and Eurest were chosen to operate the Café and provide Park hospitality. Their submission was good across the board in terms of the focus on quality of food and operations, a great looking unit fit out proposal and strong commercial terms.

A little over a year later and the Lake Shore Kitchen opened towards the end of July 2016. We were pleased to have been invited to the grand opening, where the new café operator and on-site team provided an open BBQ, jazz music and great exposure to their new foodservice operation. More importantly, it was a real compliment for us to see that a number of recommendations that we put forward in our original report were taken on board and were implemented into the final design.

Early feedback from the open day was very positive. Guests that I spoke to were pleased with the unit design, as well as the fact that there was a branded ‘feel’ to the Lake Shore Kitchen. Starbucks Coffee is now available on the campus as well as an exciting new daily changing menu, offering breakfast and hot lunch offers.

Our advice and consulting work was instrumental in delivering the new operation at Caldecotte Lake Business Park and we are confident that it will deliver the great experience, just like they would expect to find in a High Street or Retail location.