Bayview Golf and Country Club: An oasis in the heart of the city
Canada has some the best natural and beautiful playgrounds in the world, and golf clubs are undoubtedly beneficiaries of much of that beauty. From Canada’s majestic mountain scapes, to the lush forested countrysides, to the flatlands of the prairies, you can always find a gem to play. Even our most densely populated cites are scattered with oasis-like escapes from the constant noise and bumper-to bumper traffic.
Enter Bayview Golf & Country Club in Thornhill Ontario. Foodbuy had the opportunity to talk with their Executive Chef Chaminda Gamage who has over 30 years’ experience as a Chef ranging from five-star hotels to private golf clubs, about his club and his relationships with members and supplier partners, and how they impact his kitchen.
Designed in 1960 by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame architect Robbie Robinson, and renovated by renowned course designer Doug Carrick, The Bayview Golf and Country Club consistently ranks among Score Magazine’s Top 100 courses in Canada. It’s a thriving community that features year-round activities, a strategically challenging and beautifully pristine course for all levels of play, resort-style swimming pools and access to gourmet dining the whole family can enjoy.
Bayview GCC has been a ClubProcure member for well over a decade, receiving help with solution-based programs to positively affect profitability and align with service levels. Bayview GCC services over 2,500 members who expect a feast for the eyes with the added comfort of a home cooked meal.
“Our members require high quality, locally sourced food solutions to meet their expectations. Since many of our members come several times a week, we need to offer solid variety and rotating options. This does put added stress on our back of house operations”, says Chef Chaminda.
Chef Chaminda feels the added procurement pressures are a big reason he uses ClubProcure/Foodbuy as his GPO Solution provider. “I have worked with ClubProcure/Foodbuy for many years dating back to my previous tenure at King Valley Golf Club. My ClubProcure/Foodbuy representative Elizabeth McKechnie understands my business and I trust and rely on her feedback.
“I look to ClubProcure/Foodbuy to act as an extension to my team. They are the only group that can offer and manage the width and variety of F&B products and support services we need to keep our members happy.”
ClubProcure/Foodbuy offers a wide range of F&B products and support services from over 400 suppliers, customized reporting to assist with purchasing trends, budget targets, menu ideation, new R&D products, and accountability while driving revenue savings solutions. Options are plentiful with suppliers such as Abell Pest Control, Chef Works for kitchen or front office uniforms, Tournament Proshop for logo merchandise, Canadian Linen for dining room linens, John Deere for grounds maintenance, Diversey Chemicals, smallware & kitchen equipment from United Trimen. Fresh proteins from MacGregors, Leadbetter’s or Fresh Start for produce provide Chaminda the opportunity to generate
invoice savings and grow margins.
Foodbuy, ClubProcure’s parent company, is North America’s largest foodservice procurement organization and North America’s go-to GPO solution for businesses looking to realize savings and efficiencies by leveraging massive purchasing volumes.
One of the key platforms that chef Chaminda uses is ClubProcure/Foodbuy’s data and culinary trend reports. Foodbuy representatives work in tandem with distributor representatives to align the member’s business to suppliers and products that provide quality, efficiency and variety that niche clientele, such as Bayview Golf & Country Club’s business, deserve and expect.
“I receive monthly trend and culinary analytics that have a direct impact on how we prepare our menu selections. They notify me on product issues and trends that we should be capitalizing on for our members.” Chaminda added, “Recently, Elizabeth helped us to align our fresh produce purchasing and also aided in our Uniform sourcing. We significantly shortened our executional time by leveraging Foodbuy’s supplier network and we received significant cost savings. That is a win-win”.