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How Compass Group Belgium transformed its kitchen operations with Easilys by Mapal

Compass Group: A global catering leader seeking improved post-COVID performance

 

Operating in over 55 countries, Compass Group is the world’s leading provider of contract catering services. In Belgium, the company delivers food service solutions across healthcare, education, corporate<s>,</s> and event sectors.

In response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and growing client expectations for transparency and cost control, Compass Belgium embarked on a major digital transformation of its kitchen operations - a project of scale and strategic importance.

At the forefront of this initiative was Régis D’Haenens, Operational Project Manager, who oversaw the implementation of the Easilys solution, internally rebranded as Ottimi.

The challenges

 

Before adopting Mapal’s technology, Compass was reliant on an in-house system developed over three decades ago - one which had become outdated and increasingly unfit for purpose. The key issues included:

  • No menu planning functionality
  • Manual and error-prone technical data sheets
  • Limited budget oversight
  • A user interface not optimised for Belgium’s bilingual environment (French/Dutch)

These inefficiencies were exacerbated by the pandemic, which had a significant impact on revenue. It became clear that Compass needed to modernise its operational model to remain competitive.

 

Project goals

 

The transformation initiative focused on four core objectives:

  • Modernise kitchen management tools
  • Improve visibility over food expenditure
  • Streamline and automate administrative processes
  • Ensure seamless integration with existing digital ecosystems seamlessly

Why Compass chose Easilys by Mapal

 

A key influence in the decision was the positive feedback Compass France, an existing user of Easilys with proven success. Following a period of evaluation, Compass Belgium was won over by the solution’s:

  • Robust features, especially around food cost management
  • Multilingual capabilities supporting both French and Dutch
  • User-friendly interface, ensuring rapid adoption by on-site teams
  • Responsive technology partner capable of tailoring the platform to real-world operational needs 

The tool goes deep into food cost analysis. It pinpoints exactly where the budget variances are.

Régis D’Haenens, Compass Group Belgium

A structured and controlled roll-out

 

The implementation took place over approximately 18 months and followed a well-coordinated, collaborative approach between operations and IT teams:

  • A two-month pilot involving a selected group of chefs
  • Accelerated deployment across eight sites per week
  • Bilingual tools fully integrated with existing systems

Internal communications highlighted the key benefits: time savings, ease of use, and measurable financial impact – helping to secure strong buy=in from end users.

 

Measurable results

 

  • 100 active clients onboarded within two years
  • €25 million in annual purchasing volume managed through Easilys
  • 1 hour saved per chef, per day, on average
  • 10% cost savings through recipe optimisation and better control over supplier deliveries

Users range from chefs and site managers (e.g. in nursing homes, hospitals) to finance departments, who rely on detailed reporting modules to steer their operations.

 

Most popular features

 

  • Creation of technical sheets with forecasted food costs
  • Menu planning based on projected covers
  • Automated ordering from the most cost-effective suppliers
  • Detailed budget tracking and centralised reporting

 

What’s next?

 

Compass plans to strengthen its collaboration with Mapal by rolling out additional modules and further enhancing its digital ecosystem. 

About Mapal

 

Mapal is a leading provider of digital solutions purpose-built for hospitality professionals. Its modular platform is designed for multi-site environments, empowering food service operaters to boost efficiency, improve budget control and engage teams at every level.

With Easilys by Mapal, large-scale operators like Compass benefit from a powerful tool to deliver performance, simplicity and sustainability - at scale. 

Faced with the limitations of an outdated internal system and the economic pressures brought onby COVID-19, Compass Group Belgium, a leader in contract catering, launched a large-scale digital transformation.

Key results
  • Modernise kitchen operations
  • Improve cost control
  • Boost operational efficiency
  • Support a fully bilingual (French/Dutch) working environment

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