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Behind the Scenes: Five Star’s Culinary Team
At Five Star, food is more than just sustenance; it’s an experience that brings people together. Every day, our culinary and dining teams work to create meals that offer a moment of relaxation and enjoyment, whether it’s a quick break during a busy day or a nourishing meal enjoyed with family and friends.
The Heart of Innovation and Tradition
According to our Vice President of Dining Services, Michael Chapman, one of the most rewarding aspects of leading Five Star’s Culinary Team is the opportunity to explore the foodservice industry’s manufacturing side. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the manufacturing sector of the foodservice industry. Working with our Culinary Team to introduce new innovations while working to elevate our fresh food program has been the most rewarding,” says Chapman.
Our team's constant innovation is driven by feedback from our retail leaders and customers. Chapman explains, “We regularly solicit feedback from our retail leaders on new products they would like to see us offer. Many new item requests are based on price points, seasonality, and customer feedback. Sometimes our team simply comes up with new ideas, and we test them out and get feedback from our Five Star team members.”
Menu Development: A Collaborative Effort
The process of creating and adjusting our menus is a true team effort. Our Corporate Executive Chef, Mike Maricich emphasized, "We try to design menus that highlight culinary trends and introduce people to a wide range of cultural cuisines. Building menus that consider local favorites, healthy options, and client requests." Incorporating feedback from our customers is a key driver in menu changes, ensuring that we always stay connected to what people want.
Additionally, our Category Management team plays a vital role in suggesting new items based on data analysis. This blend of innovation and responsiveness keeps our offerings fresh and exciting.
Challenges in Food Production
Running a large-scale culinary operation comes with its own set of challenges. “It is not as simple as one might think to produce food for retail sale,” Chapman notes. Managing over 80 menu items while producing up to 175,000 units per week means we’re constantly focused on compliance with USDA and FDA guidelines, as well as maintaining our HACCP-certified program. Chapman adds, “It takes all of our team members working together to maintain compliance.”
Beyond regulatory challenges, the culinary team also faces external issues such as rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and finding passionate individuals to join the team. "From avian flu and rising cost of goods to supply chain issues, the past couple of years have definitely thrown us some difficult challenges," says Chapman. Despite these hurdles, the dedication and resilience of the team ensure that we continue to meet our goals.
A Passion for Culinary Arts
For those considering a career in the culinary industry, our team offers invaluable advice. "You really should have a passion for culinary to enter this field," Maricich said. He recommends starting by working in a busy kitchen to see if culinary work is the right fit: "You will either be hooked on culinary or move on to something else. After that, decisions like culinary school, future jobs, and all the rest will take care of themselves."
Chapman, who oversees the production side, shares similar guidance for those entering food manufacturing: “I would suggest that anyone wanting to pursue a career in this industry work to develop solid organizational skills as well as the strong attention to detail that is needed on a daily basis to manage the high volume, large production teams, endless compliance tasks, and the many other moving parts of a culinary center.”
Five Star’s Signature Creations
When it comes to favorite dishes, our team finds joy in crafting new creations. Maricich mentions, “I don’t have a favorite dish, but I tend to get favorite dishes of the moment. I’ll make a dish over and over until I can get to where I’m happy with it.”
For Chapman, it’s the quality of Five Star’s Harvest & Main product line that stands out. "These products are of very high quality and truly reflect the wide range of the capabilities of our fresh food program," he says. The pride and satisfaction our team takes in their work shine through in every dish.
Join the Five Star Culinary Journey
As we continue to grow and innovate, we remain committed to bringing people together through food. Whether it’s introducing new menu items, overcoming production challenges, or simply providing a delicious meal, our Culinary Team is at the heart of everything we do.
At Five Star, we believe that food has the power to connect, inspire, and bring joy to people’s lives—and we’re proud of the team that makes it all happen.
Contact us today to get a quote for our micro market, vending, pantry, and other services. We look forward to helping you find the perfect solution for your business!
