Donald Kiley

WebChef was conceived in 1999 in Johannesburg after I became frustrated with having to call every Tom, Dick and Harry to ask the same question and get the same answer looking for either ingredients or equipment. There had to be a better way of doing business, so I began networking with companies, large and small to make it easier for people in the restaurant business to get faster and more accurate results.

During this time I was referred to either current or new owners of restaurants to assist them in sourcing equipment, staff and other operational necessities and in turn ended up playing a bigger role in the setup of their businesses than originally planned.

In 2003 I got the opportunity to launch a fine dining restaurant in Scotland and then later I was lucky enough to have worked with a Michelin Star Chef in England. On coming back home, found myself back in the startup and opening situation within a hotel group and sole proprietor restaurants for some time. I then took the role of General Manager of a Golf Resort that was in the process of being established where I gained an immense amount of knowledge over the years.

Whilst sitting with a colleague in another hotel, we found ourselves with the same dilemma as I had experienced 20 years ago and I told him the story about WebChef and where it had lead to. He looked at me with bewilderment and asked the question “So what’s stopping you from doing it again”?

After some investigating, I found a gap in the market where the “Experts” were bringing in fellow professionals. Not because they don’t know what they are doing but to bring a different perspective and “Fresh Eyes” into the equation.

My son Jimmy, who is also quite the Chef and lives in Australia, and I were talking on the phone the one afternoon about our industry when he told me about how he was building up his social media base with “How To” clips and how much I would be able to give to other members within the industry with my knowledge. This then added to my investigating and something grabbed me, in that there are people and businesses out there that require guidance or “Fresh Eyes”.

I then decided to Team up with those people that have the same drive to see success as I do and with using what I call my three mantras created a business model that not only believes in them but lives by them so that we will ensure you are a success.

“Be Happy – Were in the hospitality Business”.

“If it doesn’t work – Change it”.

“Never say Can’t – If it’s not possible, find something that is”.

WebChef brings select professionals in from from Architects, Compliance Experts, E-Commerce, IT Specialists, PMS Experts, Risk Assessment, Legal advisors in select fields and many other strong individuals and companies as operations require for any project of any size to get the job done and to keep it going.

So let the WebChef Team join you on your road to a successful future with our positive and energetic approach to all aspects of our brilliant industry.