HoReCa Credentials: Main picture, Hervé Donneaud and Steve Parsons.
The Evoca Group has moved to enhance its credentials in the Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe with the appointment of a man who boasts more than 35years of experience in the sector – Steve Parsons – as HoReCa Sales Manager.
At a time in life when many have at least half an eye on retirement, Steve has, arguably, taken on the biggest job of his career; that of establishing the Evoca Group as one of the UK’s leading coffee machine companies. ‘Why retire when you’re enjoying life?’ Steve asks. ‘I work in a fantastic market, I’ve grown with it and there are great people working in it. I prefer to put the pipe and slippers on hold!’
HoReCa Credentials
Most of all, it’s the prospect of enjoying a career-crowning period of success that has drawn Steve to Evoca. ‘I’m very excited’, he admits. ‘I’ve been to the factory in Valbrembo and I’ve seen the products’, he said. ‘What’s more, I’ve seen the machines that are in development at the moment that represent our future and believe me, when they arrive in the marketplace they’re going to raise a few industry eyebrows…’ With a CV that includes stints at Franke, Matthew Algie and Tudor, he’s not making that comment lightly…
The history of Evoca: ‘The acquisition of the Gaggia brand will one day be seen as a pivotal moment.’
Steve describes his personal mission as ‘breaking big-time into the HoReCa market’. ‘I’m sure that when, in the future, somebody sits down to write the history of the Evoca Group, the acquisition of the Gaggia brand will be seen as a pivotal moment. With the Gaggia super automatic Bean-To-Cup machine coupled with the new range of milk systems they’ve got, Evoca has the ideal vehicle to change the perceptions of the marketplace. I think that from now on, even though vending remains very important to us, the company will now be seen not as a vending business but as a significant player in the mainstream catering and HoReCa market.
HoReCa Credentials
Steve’s arrival and the portfolio of contacts and expertise he brings to the party appears to be the perfect complement to Gaggia’s introduction into Evoca’s powerful stable of brands.
Although no timescales have been set in stone, Steve has identified his priorities. ‘Service is vitally important’, he says, ‘and Evoca don’t have a field service team, so I’ll be looking for field partners around the country. At the same time, I’ll be looking to identify the right customers for us to do business with, those that have the capacity to sell our machines on to high-end users, such as hotel chains, coffee shops and so on.’
Steve is based in Luton and his working days will be divided between home, Bilston and Valbrembo. Outside of work, expect to find him at Kenilworth Road on match days; because he’s mad enough to be a Hatter, as supporters of Luton Town are known.
Don’t let that put you off contacting him, though…
Read more about Hervé Donneaud on Evoca Today, HERE.
Planet Vending Evoca Archive, HERE
HoReCa Credentials
HoReCa Credentials
HoReCa Credentials
