TRIUMPH IN ORGANISATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 April 1928, Page 4

TRIUMPH IN ORGANISATION.

CATERING FOR, RACE MEETINGS

THE GROWTH OF A BIG BUSINESS

Catering for the provision, of meals and light refreshments at race meetings and similar gatherings would appear to be a prosaic occupation and one would naturally look to a local tradesman to cany out the requirement. it Iras become the custom at most provincial gatherings for some caterer operating on a large scale to cover a large area to the practical exclusion of all others in the line, even though considerable distances have to be covered to fulfil engagements. Though this practice lias become a commonplace it is still a matter of surprise to- find t'fuit an Auckland firur of caterers can find it profitable t ; o engage to do the catering for a race meeting in Hawera. the question, “How can they do it t 0 payr”. is quite naturally the first one to be asked, and the question was asked by a “Hawera Star” representative of Mrs Adams, of Adams and Sons, Auckland, caterers for the Hawera Trotting Club’s race meeting. “it is a matter of organisation and large turnover,’ replied Mrs Adams. Continuing, the lady stated that 13 years ago her husband was in business in Hawera, having the marble bar and doing a fair amount of catering. He was advised to go to Hamilton, as offering more scope. The move was made and it proved a good one. Later it was seen that Auckland offered still better prospects and another move was made. It proved a wise one and once the business was established it extended rapidly till now the firm do all the race meeting catering in Auckland province from Bay of Islands to Taumaranui, with the exception of Rotorua. “Last Saturday,” said Mrs .Adams, “we were catering at Whangarei. On Tuesday morning we left Auckland in two cars and a large lorry, our own plant, carrying twenty of our permanent staff and our crockery, cutlery, bedding, etc. We ai rived in Hawera on Tuesday night and took up quarters in the racecourse buildings. We buy all our requirements in Hawera, including small goods, but do the cooking ourselves. We are a very- happy family and by having a permanent staff the work is done with an efficiency that otherwise would not be possible. We have engaged also twenty-four local assistants so that altogether about 50 people will be engaged in catering alone on Saturday at the Hawera racecourse. But you must not think that Hawera gets our undivided attention on Saturday, for we have to do the catering at the Ellerslie course the same day and the following Saturday wo will be at the Avondale meeting, so you see we are always going, as we must do tp get the turnover which enables us to preserve the organisation we have built up. But there is another thing that has helped us and is indeed the keystone of our organisation, and that is the best even to the cutlery we set before our customers. ' - ‘ Incidentally Mrs Adams had a good word to say for Hawera, her old home, and was pleased to see that so much progress had been made and the town so attractive in appearance.