Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a luxury hospitality brand that has been delivering unforgettable guest experiences since 1961.

As our longest-standing client, Entegra has had the pleasure of supporting Four Seasons London at Park Lane, as well as other locations, for many years.

We recently spoke with Mathias Cocuron, Area Director of Finance – Middle East and Africa, and former Regional Director of Finance at Four Seasons London at Park Lane. He shared his thoughts on Entegra’s support and what sets our services apart from other Group Purchasing Organisations.

1. Could you describe how Entegra manages your partnership to ensure a seamless experience and how this has influenced your decision to continue using our services over time?

Entegra has a personalised approach and has adapted very well to our specific requirements and needs. We have discussed with Entegra our objectives, our reporting needs, our preferred avenues of communication, and Entegra has been able to customise its approach, becoming a true partner, not directing, but working together with the management team in order to achieve common goals.

2. Could you share specific challenges you faced in your operations or procurement that partnership with Entegra has directly addressed?

Entegra has allowed us to reduce food costs by proposing solutions aimed at buying the best products at the best price. Price management is a very time-consuming exercise which Entegra manages for us through our procurement platform. It has allowed the teams to focus on what matters, mostly food production. Without Entegra we would not be able to have the breadth of suppliers that we now have, and we would operate blindly in a food world where prices are extremely volatile. Entegra provides us with the tools to review pricing regularly and stay ahead of this volatility, in order to protect our cost base without compromising quality.

3. Beyond those specific challenges what impact has Entegra had on your operations? Are there any examples you can describe?

Entegra brings a lot of focus on cost management. They are professionals, their expertise counts and has been well received by our kitchen teams. It has pushed the food operations teams to develop their business acumen by using the information and knowledge that Entegra provides, in order to improve the quality of food buying. Without such a partnership, we fall back on emotional buying, or preference buying, whereas Entegra provides solutions which give a fresh perspective, and allow chefs to understand how they can influence the profitability of their operation seamlessly. Our food cost % has improved thanks to this constant focus.

4. What aspects of our service do you believe differentiate us from other procurement providers you’ve considered in the past?

In my view Entegra has two specific qualities that make a difference. Their approach is very personalised and collaborative, which creates a true bond. They care about your business, and they are true partners. Additionally, the quality of monthly reporting is second to none and provides a clear and to the point overview of the opportunities and successes identified throughout the month.

5. Looking ahead, how do you see Entegra helping your organisation? Are there any upcoming initiatives that you are particularly excited about?

We have very much focused our past relationship and work on food buying. We are now excited to explore opportunities with Entegra outside food, and we are currently looking into their extensive beverage programme.

6. Based on your experience, why would you recommend Entegra to other organisations within the hospitality industry?

I would certainly recommend Entegra to other organisations within our industry. I feel that Entegra has evolved a lot since I first collaborated with them. They have listened to our specific needs and changed their approach in order to meet our requirements. Each employee at Entegra is a trusted partner who collaborates with us. They do understand the business and they are able to adapt to different sensitivities. Dealing with a Director of Finance or an Executive Chef requires a distinct set of skills, for instance. Finally, Entegra has been incredibly supportive to us during the pandemic. Hard times are when you really see which company cares about you as a business, and Entegra does.

If you want to find out more about how we serve hotels you can explore our industry page or contact us today and start the conversation.