The KP of the Year 2024 wins the prestigious KPOTY trophy + £1000 in vouchers + a celebratory meal for friends and family in a casual dining restaurant of their choice + their employer will get a piece of Winterhalter equipment worth up to £10,000.
Three highly commended KPs will receive a KP trophy and vouchers to hospitality experiences
Every KP nominated will get a bespoke KP of the Year apron designed by Oliver Hardy.
Hear what Michael Caines, Paul Ainsworth, Emily Watkins, Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner among others have to say about a day working WITHOUT one.
Michel Roux Jr"Kitchen porters are worth their weight in gold. This idea of having a Kitchen Porter of the Year is absolutely fantastic."
Marcus Wareing"We all know that the KP is probably one of the most important people in the kitchen and sometimes they get overlooked. It’s great that they’re getting recognised with the KP of the Year award."
Emily Watkins"The kitchen porter is the key person, not only of the kitchen but also the whole business."
John Williams MBE"You want somebody who’s a great supporter of the cooks. KPs are a very powerful part of your team."
Brian Turner CBE"Kitchen porters, especially in small restaurants and hotels, have to be able to multitask. You want someone who can trim the beans as well."
Adam Simmonds"A day without a kitchen porter doesn’t bear thinking about. For us as a business it’s vitally important that we look after them."
Luke Thomas"Kitchen porters are very much the forgotten heroes of many kitchens, it's amazing to see the industry recognise what a huge part they play in the making of a good restaurant and efficient kitchen with this award."
Will Holland"The kitchen porter is one of the most important people in the building."
Michael Caines MBE"The KP has been and always will be a key part of the kitchen. They are unsung heroes, working hard and in difficult conditions to keep the flow of the kitchen going. We’re very, very pleased that we’ve got a Kitchen Porter of the Year competition. It’s a wonderful initiative."
Paul Ainsworth"I started out as a KP. It’s such a hard job! We can’t function without them. To be able to celebrate kitchen porters is great – the KP of the Year is a brilliant idea."
Chefs and managers from every part of the catering industry can enter their KPs for the award.
So whatever type of kitchen you work in, profit or cost sector, if your KP goes that extra mile, then enter them for the KP of the Year.
2023 - KP of the Year Alex Maphala
2022 - KP of the Year Michael Toader
2019 - KP of the Year Davie Fleetham
2018 - KP of the Year Father Riitmaas
2017 - KP of the Year José Núnez of The Stafford, London.
2016 - KP of the Year Mick Dunn Ruebns at the Palace, London SW1.
2015 - KP of the Year Peter Barneston of Skibo Castle.
2014 - KP of the Year Steve Ball of the Manor House Hotel in the Cotswolds.
2013 - KP of the Year Bartek Malek of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge.
KPs come in all shapes and sizes… and here are some of the very best
Judges were impressed by Alex’s innovation and creativity as well as his promotion of ‘an enjoyable working environment where mental health is prioritised so everybody can thrive.
The winner of the 2022 Kitchen Porter of the Year competition has been announced. He is Michael Toader of the Victory Services Club in London. It was easy to pick Michael as the winner,” says Stephen Kinkead. “He is the epitome of the ideal kitchen porter.
Davie Fleetham has been a kitchen porter for BaxterStorey at RBS in Edinburgh for 17 years – and now he’s the 2019 KP of the Year. The award was presented to Davie by Stephen Kinkead, managing director of the company behind the awards, Winterhalter UK, at a special ceremony at RBS on November 6th.
The award is the brainchild of warewashing specialist Winterhalter and is judged by a panel of top names from the foodservice industry. Aleks has been a kitchen porter at the Crathorne Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire for over eleven years and was nominated by Alan Robinson, the hotel’s executive head chef. “Father Riitmaas is thoughtful, generous, does the most thorough job and makes the whole team smile,” says Alan. “He cleans and scrubs areas that other KPs didn’t even know existed! He gets involved in the upkeep of everything, from the deep fat fryer to the compost bins and our bees.
José was nominated by Mark Surguy, The Stafford’s hotel manager. Judges were impressed by the KP’s initiative – for example, he suggested a new storage solution that reduced breakages significantly. “He has a work ethic that cannot be compared,” said Mark. “He’s always smiling, he holds himself and every member of his team to the highest standards. Nothing is ever too much for him.”
The KP of the Year for 2016 is Mick Dunn of Rubens at the Palace, London SW1. “Mick won in the face of some incredibly tough competition – the toughest year ever – which shows he’s absolutely a top man in his field,” says Stephen Kinkead, managing director of Winterhalter, the company behind the KP of the Year awards. The competition was so tight that the judges couldn’t decide on two runners up – so they selected three instead. They are Kevin Axtell of Windsor Castle Guard Rooms, Windsor; Daniel Gligorov of The White Hart at Fyfield, Oxfordshire; and Wendy Scott of Beachley Barracks, Chepstow.
Peter Barnetson of Skibo Castle was Kitchen Porter of the Year 2015. Peter was nominated by Craig Rowland, executive chef at Skibo, who said, "Peter’s work ethic is second to none. His enthusiasm motivates the team, and his fastidious standards rub off on them! He’s a famous leg-puller and his jokes keep the atmosphere light during a busy, stressful day"
