Sussex Catering Expert Builds Unique Case For The Environment

Friday, 2 December 2022 16:39

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Kate Gould from KEG Catering Consultants

A commercial foodservice consultant from Sussex is at the forefront of the war against single-use cutlery thanks to an idea which could transform the way we eat on the go.

It’s likely the UK will introduce a ban on all single-use plastic cutlery next year, meaning anyone buying takeaways or street food will have to either carry their own utensils or battle through with flimsy wooden equivalents.

Chailey-based Kate Gould, from KEG Catering Consultants, has come up with a ground-breaking solution that cuts waste allowing customers to eat comfortably and carry their used cutlery without staining the inside of their clothes or bag — the KissCase.

The product – KISS (Keep It Safe and Sustainable) — is a dishwasher safe and leak-proof cutlery case that comes with a spork inside (a fork and a spoon in one.)

Kate designed the KissCase during lockdown, with production commencing in Newhaven a couple of months ago, giving customers plenty of time to get hold of them before the single use plastic cutlery ban comes into force.

The entrepreneur, who has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, developed the case after battling to eat her take-away dinner with wooden cutlery she was given with her order.

She said:

“I’d been to a meeting and was having fish and chips for my lunch.

"I was given a bamboo knife and fork with it, which got me thinking. Bamboo cutlery, while better than plastic, still isn’t that great for the environment because of the way that it is produced.

“There’s nothing like the KissCase on the market. I really want people to get into the habit and mindset of carrying their own eating utensils with them either for work or when they go out.

"We have to stop relying on disposable cutlery that ends up in landfill."

The KissCase is made from PP (Polypropylene) — a very tough and 100% recyclable type of plastic.

If the spork itself is ever recycled, its versatility means there is always an end market for it to be used in many other everyday items.