Sitting with an Alumnus

Interview with Camille Berthaud, CEO of Compass Group France

Tell us about yourself

CB: I am an alumnus , class of 2007. Originally from a family of hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs Normandy. For the past 15 years , I ' ve been working for Compass Group France , a contract catering company Also , I ' m of course passionate about F& B and this is a sector where I am - and will be - evolving for the rest of my professional life .

You were appointed as CEO of Compass Group , France We ’re proud to see our alumnus at the top of such prestigious companies What are 3 things that allowed you to achieve this growth ?

CB: Thank you . Well , the first thing is authenticity. I believe that to flourish in a company, you must first and foremost be yourself It ' s important to be able to evolve in an environment that you enjoy so , to me , authenticity is one of the key factors to succeed in a career.

The second is curiosity. We ’re in an industry that fastly evolves especially regarding new trends and industry crises that, fortunately, encourage us to be curious about what ’s happening in other sectors , industries , and countries

Lastly, it ' s extremely important to properly surround yourself with the right people in an organization . We can ’ t be good at everything and there ’s always room for improvement This means we can never be 100% on all different subjects on our own So , in the end , it all comes down to surrounding yourself with competent people and creating the most favorable conditions for your team

How have the last 2 years changed the way the group operates ? What about business divisions like Exalt ? Has the operating model changed ?

CB: Of course . The last 3 years have changed us a lot due to the acceleration of home office . Trends such as sourcing products locally, highlighting the terroir, and concentrating on much shorter supply networks are all being reinforced . This means we have to not only keep up but also evolve , altogether with this particular subject.

To us , the most direct competition are the commercial catering industries , the bistros , the brasseries , and the deliveries This means that we have to adapt our own organizational models , operating standards , culinary offers , and services . Because of that, we ’re keen to innovate by creating new offers and services . This will be done by significantly reinvesting in the build - up of offering , thus ensuring that whatever it is we offer, corresponds to the expectations of our consumers , hence reflecting the consumption trends in the commercial restaurant industry

Adding on , we ’ ve also further developed delivery offers by creating a new entity called ‘ Popote ’which is our first ever cold delivery offer, aimed at smaller companies that don ’ t have restaurants in their corporate buildings

We ’re proud to say we ’ ve also significantly invested in the digital spectrum , which helps ensure that our offers are accessible at all times . For that, we' re developing a lot of digital offers in ‘click + collect ’, which further enhances the consumer ’s digital experience

With Exalt, in particular, we have options where you can easily order appetizers , dishes , and desserts via an App , being directly served at your table as easily as a click of a button .

Honestly, I ’d say that the covid crisis and current situation has encouraged us to review, or even accelerate , our reinforcement and supply within France We did so by developing our supplies by focusing on French agricultural channels We also strengthened our culinary offers to be more adapted to new consumption habits and as well next - gen consumers .

Lastly, we aim to further strengthen both our innovation and digital offer by moving to a more hybrid and diversified model that caters to these new consumption habits

Has EHL or its Alumni Network helped you advance in your career ?

CB: Oh certainly. In fact, I was recruited by Compass Group France by an alumni * laughs*. So in the end , it was actually because of the EHL Network that I joined Compass Group France What followed is that I then recruited a lot of young graduates as well , with whom I built my different teams over the years . So yes , you can safely say that EHL played a key role .

Also , I have EHL colleagues who are in different industries with whom I talk to on a regular basis , especially my two friends from HOSCO, Olivier Bracard , and Carl Julien , with whom we have set up fantastic partnerships

And these are just one of many examples . There are quite a few EHL alumni with whom our company works , or with whom we ’ ve developed partnerships

If we take a more global approach , how do you see the future of contract catering in France in the next 5, 10 years ?

CB: Great question ! We ’re in a sector that is undergoing a major transformation and , to get out in front of the pack , we ’ ll have to keep evolving in several aspects .

First, the work- life quality of employees has been a major topic , especially since Covid We need to offer employees a real career plan and not just a job

As you may know, the restaurant sector, in general , is a division with many job offerings . And those who come out on top are the ones that have the best employee brand and the ability to attract talent.

Secondly, there are various opportunities in the global catering sector, such as within sports & leisure , the corporate sector, healthcare , and even education .

Also , today, another challenge that we have to overcome is inflation But, just as with Covid , this can also be seen as an opportunity.

For example , self - managed organizations will turn to specialized professionals who have both a purchasing strategy and the resources to face these new challenges

Thirdly, it ' s a sector that will become more attractive for hospitality students and even the general population . I say this because I know that contract catering is a sector with many positive factors .

For example , companies such as Compass Group France , by making a million meals a day in France , have the ability to fundamentally change things . As an example , we can teach children to eat better by developing their palates , their curiosity for different flavors , and the discovery of vegetables , thus promoting healthier diets

Plus , we have the potential to act upon the productivity of companies Because with catering that meets all new trends , employees will feel more fulfilled at work simply because they ’ ll have a restaurant – or a cafe – with excellent offers . This is much more exciting than eating a salad from home .

Lastly, and equally important, we also cater to hospitals and clinics And there too we have the possibility of enhancing the daily life of those who are in a fragile state , simply by helping with proper nutrition , thus helping them eat well .

So , to sum up , I ’m a firm believer that contract catering is a sector with a strong , positive impact And this is only the beginning Joining a contract catering company is a fantastic way to have a true impact on the planet, on health , and therefore , on the well - being of others

HEAD OVER TO COMPASS GROUP FRANCE ' S WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ACCESS