About Us
CDIS-KARM are recognised as the leading catering design consultancy in the field of sustainability, energy awareness, environmental and social impact, and have helped their like minded clients achieve significant results in their catering operations. As a practice CDIS-KARM pride themselves on the ability to take two conflicting sets of circumstances and produce a solution that meets the client’s needs and is both acceptable to the construction team and the caterers.
We have gained vast experience over the years designing and project managing facilities for caterers, ranging from fast food takeaways and coffee bars to commercial canteens and staff restaurants, Michelin star restaurants and educational establishments. We are confident that any client looking for innovation coupled with achieving their social, economic and environmental responsibilities will feel sure that their project is in safe hands and that we will produce a facility that will be well received and appreciated by all concerned.
In March 2006 CDIS-KARM formed a voluntary group which has evolved into The Catering for a Sustainable Future Group (CSFG). The CSFG is a voluntary organisation, formed from people within the UK catering industry interested in developing ideas and initiatives to promote energy savings and sustainability in commercial kitchens, in the face of growing public awareness of this issue, Mr D Clarke remains actively involved in the group currently as joint Chair.
In 2003 CDIS-KARM was formed bringing together C.D.I.S. the design consultancy and KARM Projects. Project management; two interrelated business’ that had already been working closely over a number of years this help form a stronger business that was better able to provide the client with the desired “full package” offer.
Mr K Burnett had formed KARM Projects as an independent project management practice after working in the catering design industry since 1988, working for contract caters Gardner Merchant (Sodexo) and Compass as well as Lockhart, Winterhalter and an independent kitchen design house.
While Mr D Clarke came to the catering industry from an engineering, and marketing background specialising in retail development, Mr C Clarke has been trained in all engineering disciplines that affect the catering industry and has spent his whole working life specialising in catering engineering. He is trained and certificated to City and Guilds standards in both mechanical and electrical engineering. Mrs Janette Hewitt-Allard has worked for C.D.I.S. since 1992 and was fully trained as an operational caterer before changing direction and taking up a position on the design side of the business.
C.D.I.S. was founded in 1992 by Mr D Clarke to handle the increased level of design requests received by Catering and Plumbing Services Ltd who specialised in the installation of commercial kitchens and catering facilities. This company had been formed in 1982 as a partnership with Mr D Clarke as the senior partner and was changed to a limited company in 1992. In 1995 following a joint venture working for Conran Restaurants the installation part of the business was wound up in favour of developing the design consultancy business.