Restaurant design company is cooking on gas with new appointment

A North East design company is about to cater for new markets after appointing a sales director to expand the business.

Nick Wain, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is returning to work in the North East to join Hebburn-based Restaurant Design Associates (RDA) after working in Costa Coffee Corporate Sales as a Channel Manager and National Account Manager for over five years. Nick has significant experience in the Foodservice market, and a major part of his career developed during his 18 years with the Mars Group where he was involved with snacks and main meal product groups.

The directors at RDA, who had worked with Nick on various projects over the past year, invited him to apply for the newly created position in order to develop the company’s customer base, pinpoint new target markets, and raise RDA’s profile locally and nationally.

Nick brings many years of experience in the contract catering sector to his new position at RDA, where he will develop the sales strategy and focus of the business.

He said: “I was very keen to join the RDA team because I have always been impressed by the style, quality and innovation of their work, plus the friendliness of the staff! I enjoyed working with them on past projects and I am delighted to take up a full time position here.

“I’m very much looking forward to taking the innovation and creativity of RDA to a wider audience, and this is also a great opportunity for me to learn more about the construction side of the company.

“I have worked in the North East in the past, when I began selling Ambrosia products at 18 years old, in villages such as Ashington and Blyth, and it’s great to be back here.”

The family firm was set up in 2007 by directors Roy and Judith Addyman, who live in South Tyneside.

Judith said: “We’re delighted to welcome Nick to the team. He impressed us with his level of experience in working with nationally renowned brands and we have grown to know his work very well over the past year.

“We have no doubt that Nick is the ideal candidate to broaden the scope of the organisation, and to further establish our reputation as being one of the leading design companies in the UK.”

RDA has a wealth of experience in the design and installation of catering and retail facilities for multi-national blue chip companies, education and NHS Trusts, contract caterers and private businesses throughout the UK.

The company recently completed the installation of a coffee bar in the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, two cafes in London for Villani Group, and a restaurant at Scottish Power’s headquarters in Glasgow. The team has been busy working on projects at Bangor University and Coventry City FC’s ground at the Ricoh Arena.

RDA is also now working with Carillion and Robertson Construction on a number of school kitchens throughout the North East.

The firm has secured several orders for 2011 onwards, including a number of foodcourts, coffee outlets, workplace restaurants and commercial kitchens at sites such as Birmingham Hospital, Peterborough Hospital and Coventry University.

For further information about RDA, visit www.rdalimited.co.uk or tel: 0844 873 4993