(Image: Supplied)
A CATERING supervisor is celebrating 35 years of service.
Gerard Raedcher has reached the milestone at Czajka Care Group, having joined the West Yorkshire care provider in 1991 at the age of 20.
He joined Czajka Care Group as a chef and quickly became known for his high standards and resident-focused approach.
Mr Raedcher said: "Food should always be about making somebody’s day better.
"Making food that someone enjoys is an achievement, whether it’s a favourite meal or a cake to celebrate a special occasion.
"We always strive to give residents what they want and if we don’t have it, we will get it within 24 hours."
As area catering supervisor, he now oversees catering at Czajka’s leisure facility, The Clubhouse, and across three care homes: Brookfield, Staveley Birkleas, and Currergate.
He supports teams in delivering nutritious, freshly prepared meals tailored to residents’ tastes and dietary needs and is proud to have maintained a five-star food hygiene rating across all sites.
Konrad Czajka, managing director of Czajka Care Group, said: "Gerard’s 35 years with us is a fantastic achievement and a testament to his commitment, hard work and passion for what he does.
"Food is such an important part of life in our homes, and Gerard understands that it is about much more than what is on the plate.
"It is about listening to residents, understanding what they enjoy and helping to make their mealtimes interesting and varied."
Mr Raedcher was awarded a commemorative badge and gift during a special presentation recognising his long service and dedication to residents, kitchens, and catering teams.
He originally studied catering at college as part of a Youth Training Scheme before gaining early experience in the kitchens at Bradford University.
Throughout his career, Mr Raedcher has worked at all of Czajka’s homes, helping to improve and develop catering operations before moving into management.
He said: "It’s also about the people you work with.
"I’ve got a great team around me, and we all want to do the best for our residents.
"We support one another, and that makes a real difference."
Czajka Care Group’s catering teams prepare around 90 per cent of dishes from scratch, using local suppliers such as a butcher in Saltaire and a fruit and vegetable supplier in Keighley.
Menus feature traditional British favourites as well as a range of international options.