Welcome to my world…..

Jonathan  is currently the EMEA Head of Foodservice Consulting at JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) running the advisory business across 12 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The business is focused on Western and Central Europe and headquartered in London, on Warwick Street, with a supporting office at Stockley Park near Heathrow Airport.

Jonathan was previously the founder and Group Managing Director of Coverpoint Foodservice Consultants, an International management consultancy working in over 50 countries. He started the business in January 1993 and grew it from a sole trader business to a team of 15 people. The Coverpoint business was acquired by JLL in November 2014 and now operates as “JLL Foodservice Consulting” alongside the other business activities of JLL, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The sale to JLL was completed to accelerate the growth in the consulting business and to provide support and further infrastructure for the team as the geography of the fee instructions widened. JLL have offices in over 215 locations around the world, allowing for strong support for the foodservice consulting activities.

Jonathan has always been in the foodservice industry, from the age of 14 when he was helping in a local pub to sort bottles and kegs and learning about food and drink service. Having completed his O level education at Nottingham Boys High School, Jonathan left to go to Clarendon College, where he completed an OND in Foodservice Management.  He then moved to Manchester and after achieving a Degree in Hotel and Catering Administration & Management, Jonathan was employed as a Chef and Restaurateur and held various Management roles with Trusthouse Forte, Imperial Inns and Taverns, Marriott and Mars and Peter Burholt Consulting amongst others, before launching Coverpoint.

Coverpoint completed projects in the Far East, Africa, South America, Russia, China, mainland Europe and the Nordics, working with most of the world-class developers, owners and venues, as well as architects and design houses. The business was responsible for delivering foodservice solutions were innovative, challenged the ‘norm’, and which exceeded client and customer expectations. In many ways Coverpoint were responsible for the growth and development in the shopping and transit markets, with Jonathan proudly “holding the flag” for the foodservice industry, in the larger retail business arena.

Coverpoint were also particularly active in the Historic Houses, Palaces and Parks market and worked on Kew Gardens, Blenheim Palace, Leeds Castle, The Historic Royal Palaces collection and many others. They brought a more commercial and “guest focused” approach to the market place and introduced new operators and ways of doing things. Jonathan continues some of this work today as a Trustee and advisor to Kew Gardens.

Leading an international team of foodservice professionals from the offices in the UK, Jonathan has developed a strong reputation over the last 25 years for the pioneering approach he has brought to commercial foodservice, predominantly in the retail and guest experience environments, which has seen Coverpoint become world leaders in their field. The sale of the business to JLL strengthened the support services that the business can line utilise and allows for more focus on the work that matters, and that is his greatest passion,the foodservice consulting for clients.

Jonathan is an avid watcher of the foodservice industry, spotting trends and changes and actively helping to shape and redefine the future of the foodservice industry. Jonathan is an active ‘blogger’, sharing his thoughts and views on new foodservice openings, innovative ideas, customer service and thought provoking industry topics, collected from his extensive travels and experiences around the globe. He also spends considerable time each year training and mentoring students around the world in various academic locations, “putting back” some of the extensive training and support he received as a student.

Jonathan was also a significant part of the Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI), where he held the UK Chair, the European Chair and finally very proudly held the role of Worldwide President of the Society for 2 years, which was made up of 1,400 foodservice consulting professional from all around the world.

Jonathan enjoys public speaking, having carried out over 100 engagements in the last 15 years to audiences all around the world. As you would expect, food and drink are central to these talks, but so is guest care, customer service and “standing out” from the rest of the crowd.

Jonathan is married to Michelle, with a young son, Thomas and they live in Woodley in Berkshire. He enjoys cycling, walking, all things foodservice and family life at home.  International travel is still a big part of the job, but being home in England is his greatest pleasure.

Retirement is not an option when you are having this much fun…….