Greek Australian chef Chris Lucas has joined forces with some of Australia’s highest-profile restaurateurs to launch the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA).
According to The Australian Financial Review, the new industry association will push for improvements to skilled migration, tax and industrial relations.
Neil Perry will chair the ARCA, alongside Mr Lucas as deputy chairman. The 15 ARCA board members include chef Luke Mangan, Merivale’s chief people officer Jessica Furolo, Stokehouse boss Hugh van Haandel, Anton Forte of Swillhouse group, Fink Group CEO Jeremy Courmadias, The Grounds of Alexandria co-founder Ramzey Choker, and other heavy hitters.
The group threatens the dominance of the 100-year-old but financially struggling Restaurant and Catering Association (R&CA) which is led by chief executive Wes Lambert.
Speaking after ARCA’s first board meeting on Friday, May 31, Mr Perry cast ARCA as the power group that would lobby Canberra while the R&CA delivered industrial advice on award matters or health and safety.
Source: The Australian Financial Review
