Recent testimonials from clients of The Gourmet Guardian
“The Gourmet Guardian always offers a great service when it comes to our Food Safety Audit. They have provided us with some fantastic suggestions to improve our current procedures and are always willing to assist and support our Childcare service.”
Belinda Salter
CEO
Stewart Child Care Services
Belinda Salter
CEO
Stewart Child Care Services
“We have been working with Gourmet Guardian for many years, we love that the team is professional and always across the regulations. When information is needed they are always happy to help. We will continue to have a great partnership with The Gourmet Guardian for years to come.”
Amelia Brunning
Services Director
Sutherland Street Childcare and Kindergarten
Amelia Brunning
Services Director
Sutherland Street Childcare and Kindergarten
“The Gourmet Guardian came highly recommended to develop our Food Safety Program at the Marriott Surfers Paradise Resort and Spa. I was absolutely amazed at the professionalism, knowledge and attention to detail that was shown. After submission to the Gold Coast City Council their response was that this was the most comprehensive Food Safety Program that they had seen, so full credit to The Gourmet Guardian. I will be recommending them to all of my colleagues on the Gold Coast and interstate. The Gourmet Guardian takes the headache out of a complicated document, absolutely worth every cent."
Andrew Fraser
Executive Chef
Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
Andrew Fraser
Executive Chef
Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and acknowledge your precious time that you spent here with us at Kokomo Private Island Fiji. You taught us, not just what ought to be taught but also what you thought we needed to know. We have learnt a lot and believe that with those few words we bid you farewell ‘No Sa Moce’ which means goodbye for now."
Kokomo Family
Kokomo Private Island Resort Fiji
Kokomo Family
Kokomo Private Island Resort Fiji
"The Gourmet Guardian is used by the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach for monthly Internal Food Safety and storage audits and as a consultant for our HACCP Certification program. The Gourmet Guardian have been instrumental in the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach achieving a near perfect external HACCP Audit for four years in a row. Their services are thorough, detailed and support our drive for excellence in food safety. The Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach is extremely happy with the services from The Gourmet Guardian team."
Amery Burleigh
General Manager
Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach
Amery Burleigh
General Manager
Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach
"The Gourmet Guardian provided very informative and supportive HACCP Team training at a level that all of our staff understood. They walked away from the training with a rock solid understanding of HACCP and our HACCP Program and gave them the confidence to execute and teach others."
Adam Roberts
Executive Chef
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Adam Roberts
Executive Chef
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
"I have had many FS and HACCP audits in my time. I think that yours was balanced, fair and thorough. I found you receptive to questions, and your responses considered, relevant and practical. We have implemented a number of recommendations already.
It is worth noting that none of the previous audits had recommendations for fixing the issues highlighted."
Lee Thompson
Executive Chef
Rydges Sydney Airport
It is worth noting that none of the previous audits had recommendations for fixing the issues highlighted."
Lee Thompson
Executive Chef
Rydges Sydney Airport
"I have been working as an executive in 5 star hotel kitchens since 2010.
I first heard of The Gourmet Guardian and Gavin Buckett when I was the Executive Sous Chef at the Sofitel Brisbane Central. As a brand requirement, we had to get our hotel HACCP Certified and Gavin helped us achieve high results in the hotel and took us to accreditation.
I then contacted Gavin when I went to Fiji in February 2013 to help me implement a HACCP program at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, where I was the Executive Chef. As part of my contract, I was tasked by Head Office to ensure the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa achieved HACCP Certification, as it had taken too long for the previous management and previous consultant to implement.
The Gourmet Guardian ran us through a very thorough process, and despite the turnover of General Managers at the time, we kept aiming for HACCP Certification, in a foreign country where not a single hotel or resort was HACCP Certified at the time, and food safety means nothing to local people and hotel owners.
By January 2015 the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa achieved full HACCP Certification by both an external certification company and by the local Ministry of Health, which was a first in the Fiji Islands.
I left the company after successfully achieving HACCP Certification, and went back for a second run of Fiji but this time for the Hilton as they were opening a new DoubleTree resort and wanted to have the property HACCP Certified as well.
Gavin came back and helped me in designing a full HACCP Program (as he had done for Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa) for the DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji. This time he managed to incorporate many of the existing Hilton Worldwide guidelines into our HACCP Program. This is when you see how thorough he is and how other companies would just copy paste other plans or programs.
Gavin went through all of our food and beverage operations from start to finish, asked relevant questions to employees, went to all outlets and operations and often mentioned how a HACCP Program has to be custom made and represents the finger print of the actual hotel, it cannot be copied from another hotel’s programs, even if HACCP Principles do not change, the hotels are the variance of the program, like its own DNA.
We worked harder at this resort than we had at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, as I was not given the luxury of having a Kitchen Hygienist! We did it all. Just the two of us, and a committed team in the kitchen.
He has been the catalyst of the HACCP Program constantly helping on customising and amending monitoring forms and procedures, and after 1 and ½ year after opening, we achieved HACCP Certification with the same principles (using an independent external company and the Ministry of Health). Gavin has helped the DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji achieve results on a very low fee (and many sleepless nights), always with us when we needed support, up until both audits, answering our questions with proper well weighted answers related to our business.
There are only two hotels or resorts that are fully HACCP Certified in the Fiji Islands, and that is because of Gavin Buckett and The Gourmet Guardian.
The Gourmet Guardian is at the image of his founder- straight forward. I often called Gavin Buckett the Elliot Ness of food safety in relation to his business ethics.
Today I am an Executive Chef back in Brisbane, in a five star hotel, that has already contracted another food safety programmer. Despite all this, he constantly gives me time and help me towards making my latest business food safe, at no cost. You know when a person has real passion and commitment to his job when food safety becomes a focus, more than gain.
I do not think you could find a better company in Australia (and the South Pacific, I may add) better than The Gourmet Guardian, if your business is any kind of food production or manufacturing.
After working with him for more than 7 years, Gavin and his family have become personal friends due to the fact that everyone likes a genuine “dinky di” guy as he is.
This is a personal testimony on The Gourmet Guardian and Gavin Buckett, if you need more examples on why this company is the best in what they do, do not hesitate to contact me."
Jean-Marc Ruzzene
Executive Chef
Stamford Plaza Brisbane
I first heard of The Gourmet Guardian and Gavin Buckett when I was the Executive Sous Chef at the Sofitel Brisbane Central. As a brand requirement, we had to get our hotel HACCP Certified and Gavin helped us achieve high results in the hotel and took us to accreditation.
I then contacted Gavin when I went to Fiji in February 2013 to help me implement a HACCP program at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, where I was the Executive Chef. As part of my contract, I was tasked by Head Office to ensure the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa achieved HACCP Certification, as it had taken too long for the previous management and previous consultant to implement.
The Gourmet Guardian ran us through a very thorough process, and despite the turnover of General Managers at the time, we kept aiming for HACCP Certification, in a foreign country where not a single hotel or resort was HACCP Certified at the time, and food safety means nothing to local people and hotel owners.
By January 2015 the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa achieved full HACCP Certification by both an external certification company and by the local Ministry of Health, which was a first in the Fiji Islands.
I left the company after successfully achieving HACCP Certification, and went back for a second run of Fiji but this time for the Hilton as they were opening a new DoubleTree resort and wanted to have the property HACCP Certified as well.
Gavin came back and helped me in designing a full HACCP Program (as he had done for Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa) for the DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji. This time he managed to incorporate many of the existing Hilton Worldwide guidelines into our HACCP Program. This is when you see how thorough he is and how other companies would just copy paste other plans or programs.
Gavin went through all of our food and beverage operations from start to finish, asked relevant questions to employees, went to all outlets and operations and often mentioned how a HACCP Program has to be custom made and represents the finger print of the actual hotel, it cannot be copied from another hotel’s programs, even if HACCP Principles do not change, the hotels are the variance of the program, like its own DNA.
We worked harder at this resort than we had at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, as I was not given the luxury of having a Kitchen Hygienist! We did it all. Just the two of us, and a committed team in the kitchen.
He has been the catalyst of the HACCP Program constantly helping on customising and amending monitoring forms and procedures, and after 1 and ½ year after opening, we achieved HACCP Certification with the same principles (using an independent external company and the Ministry of Health). Gavin has helped the DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji achieve results on a very low fee (and many sleepless nights), always with us when we needed support, up until both audits, answering our questions with proper well weighted answers related to our business.
There are only two hotels or resorts that are fully HACCP Certified in the Fiji Islands, and that is because of Gavin Buckett and The Gourmet Guardian.
The Gourmet Guardian is at the image of his founder- straight forward. I often called Gavin Buckett the Elliot Ness of food safety in relation to his business ethics.
Today I am an Executive Chef back in Brisbane, in a five star hotel, that has already contracted another food safety programmer. Despite all this, he constantly gives me time and help me towards making my latest business food safe, at no cost. You know when a person has real passion and commitment to his job when food safety becomes a focus, more than gain.
I do not think you could find a better company in Australia (and the South Pacific, I may add) better than The Gourmet Guardian, if your business is any kind of food production or manufacturing.
After working with him for more than 7 years, Gavin and his family have become personal friends due to the fact that everyone likes a genuine “dinky di” guy as he is.
This is a personal testimony on The Gourmet Guardian and Gavin Buckett, if you need more examples on why this company is the best in what they do, do not hesitate to contact me."
Jean-Marc Ruzzene
Executive Chef
Stamford Plaza Brisbane
"With assistance and diligence, Gavin Buckett and the Gourmet Guardian team navigated Opera Kitchen through the HACCP process. With a venue as multi-faceted as ours, which caters for an average of 1000 plus patrons to the Sydney Opera House daily, it was essential that the best-fit program was put in place, and thanks to Gourmet Guardian’s patience and thorough work with the initial onsite internal audits and staff training, Opera Kitchen was successfully awarded full HACCP status."
Pete Boyce
Business Operations Analyst
Opera Kitchen
Pete Boyce
Business Operations Analyst
Opera Kitchen
"The Food Safety Program guides me to make clean food and safer cooking environment. Also, it supports me on how to train staff on food safety issues. The Gourmet Guardian Food Safety Program is working very well to prevent food poisoning and also protects my business as well. I will recommend Gavin if my friend opened their own business."
Kiyong Ra
Sushi Bar Blue Line
David Jones Melbourne
Kiyong Ra
Sushi Bar Blue Line
David Jones Melbourne
“A big thank you to you and your team for supporting our HACCP Program and Internal Food Safety Audits over the past 4 years. We couldn’t have done it without all your hard work and expertise.”
John Kim
Operations Manager
Deluxe Services
John Kim
Operations Manager
Deluxe Services
“The Gourmet Guardian is an extremely professional organisation that I would highly recommend to any company wanting to implement management systems.”
Richard Hardy
Little Bertha Pty Ltd
Richard Hardy
Little Bertha Pty Ltd
“Everything is good with the HACCP Program you prepared for us. I had a good chat with the auditor today and he’s very happy with what you have done as I am after looking at it properly. I know I sometimes get a bit frustrated with all the PrimeSafe requirements, it’s just that we have been in operation for such a long time and what we like to do is all very old fashioned. My father and I are just trying to keep a bit of history alive that no one seems to care much about these days. Like I said though, the auditor is very happy with everything you have done in such a short time. After the other guy stuffed us around for so long, we appreciate you helping us out at the last minute.
Thanks for everything. You’ve done a great job!”
NOTE: Melanie is Lenard Beazley’s daughter. Lenard is a fifth generation local fisherman in Port Phillip Bay that only sells what they catch.
Melanie Beazley
Operator
LG and EF Beazley Port Melbourne
Thanks for everything. You’ve done a great job!”
NOTE: Melanie is Lenard Beazley’s daughter. Lenard is a fifth generation local fisherman in Port Phillip Bay that only sells what they catch.
Melanie Beazley
Operator
LG and EF Beazley Port Melbourne
“I just wanted to send you a quick email to thank you very much for all your assistance. We have received approval from the council. The information and advice you provided and the resources you recommended, was pivotal to the approval’s success. We will surely be in touch regarding further business developments that require a more in-depth look at HACCP Certification.
Thanks again.”
Nic Gill
Highett Food Patch
316 Highett Road Highett Victoria
Thanks again.”
Nic Gill
Highett Food Patch
316 Highett Road Highett Victoria
“As a new subscriber to your site, I just thought I’d let you know that I love the Seven Deadly Sins subscription. I teach VET Hospitality and it is great to have this to reinforce the information I am teaching them. I am looking forward to the 6 other sins.
Keep up the great work.”
Gaylene Turri
Keep up the great work.”
Gaylene Turri
“We found the expert advice and guidance provided by Gavin to be the key to us achieving certification in a very tight time frame. He showed great ability explaining quite complex systems and procedures to all levels of our staff. One of the many positive outcomes we have enjoyed since gaining HACCP Certification is that Gavin has formed effective ongoing professional relationships with key members of my team. This helps ensure the ongoing development of our system effected in a timely manner by our team.”
Sam Lynch
Managing Director
Original Foods
Sam Lynch
Managing Director
Original Foods
“Thank you for your contribution to our successful HACCP Certification. I appreciate your offer to assist us with the verification activities for the next twelve months, in fact it is gladly accepted! There is no doubt our business needs your expertise in the food industry and being associated with The Gourmet Guardian makes me feel like I’m always playing for the winning team!
Please find attached the completed feedback form. I did not have any other opinion but to mark your performance as ‘exceptional’ across the board. For the last ten years The Gourmet Guardian (previously AGB Solutions) was an essential part of our business. Starting from preparation of the most advanced HACCP program accompanied by quarterly internal audits up until now. The Gourmet Guardian is helping us to successfully maintain our existing clients and, in some cases, obtain new ones."
Igor Gouroulev
Owner Director
QT Trading Pty Ltd
Please find attached the completed feedback form. I did not have any other opinion but to mark your performance as ‘exceptional’ across the board. For the last ten years The Gourmet Guardian (previously AGB Solutions) was an essential part of our business. Starting from preparation of the most advanced HACCP program accompanied by quarterly internal audits up until now. The Gourmet Guardian is helping us to successfully maintain our existing clients and, in some cases, obtain new ones."
Igor Gouroulev
Owner Director
QT Trading Pty Ltd
“Gavin’s professional approach, skills and knowledge in this area has enabled food businesses understand the concept of food allergens, how to develop a food allergen matrix and deal with customer enquiries. The council looks forward to continuing to work with
The Gourmet Guardian to promote food safety within the community”.
Joe Giuliani
Coordinator Environmental Health Services
Maribyrnong City Council
The Gourmet Guardian to promote food safety within the community”.
Joe Giuliani
Coordinator Environmental Health Services
Maribyrnong City Council
“Gavin Buckett assisted in writing up our food plan and in doing so, was instrumental helping Meal Magic receive permission from a then highly dubious local council to open the first Meal Magic store. Six weeks after opening, Meal Magic was recognised as a 5 star award-winning food service and shop – a standard that we have maintained -thanks to Gavin’s assistance.”
Debra Jacobs
CEO
Meal Magic
Debra Jacobs
CEO
Meal Magic
"I have worked with The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd for the last five years over different projects and audits. The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd are our preferred Food Safety advisor, auditor and trainer who conducts work in our retail stores across the country as well as in our warehouses and manufacturing factories in VIC, WA and QLD.
The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd first started working with us to develop our own registered Food Safety template which was difficult and comprehensive but has successfully gained approval for the program to be used in all states across Australia and New Zealand. The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd also developed and audited our HACCP program in our warehouse and selected stores ensuring we are compliant and have provided suggestions on areas to improve or strengthen.
Gavin Buckett developed a tailor-made Food Safety Supervisor course for our Managers to complete based on our industry and Food Safety Program while still having an accredited training result. This is completed yearly and with the extended knowledge that Gavin has of our program, the training that is provided is of the highest quality with the result of greater understanding of what is required to run our Food Safety Program in store.
The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd also provide Food Safety consultancy and advise on areas which may come up outside of our knowledge and aid in resolving any issues or questions that may arise.
I would highly recommend The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd for any training, auditing or creation of Food Safety Programs to any company or business that is looking for a company to help guide them through the difficulty of food safety compliance along with the professionalism that Gavin and his team can offer. I have never been disappointed with the service offered and can speak very highly of the quality of work.
You will not be disappointed joining with The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd."
Jamie Stewart
National Operations Manager
Sushi Sushi & Sushii Izakaya
The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd first started working with us to develop our own registered Food Safety template which was difficult and comprehensive but has successfully gained approval for the program to be used in all states across Australia and New Zealand. The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd also developed and audited our HACCP program in our warehouse and selected stores ensuring we are compliant and have provided suggestions on areas to improve or strengthen.
Gavin Buckett developed a tailor-made Food Safety Supervisor course for our Managers to complete based on our industry and Food Safety Program while still having an accredited training result. This is completed yearly and with the extended knowledge that Gavin has of our program, the training that is provided is of the highest quality with the result of greater understanding of what is required to run our Food Safety Program in store.
The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd also provide Food Safety consultancy and advise on areas which may come up outside of our knowledge and aid in resolving any issues or questions that may arise.
I would highly recommend The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd for any training, auditing or creation of Food Safety Programs to any company or business that is looking for a company to help guide them through the difficulty of food safety compliance along with the professionalism that Gavin and his team can offer. I have never been disappointed with the service offered and can speak very highly of the quality of work.
You will not be disappointed joining with The Gourmet Guardian Pty Ltd."
Jamie Stewart
National Operations Manager
Sushi Sushi & Sushii Izakaya