Commercial warewasher supplier Winterhalter is encouraging fish and chip restaurants to celebrate National KP Day on 22nd June by sharing pictures of these important team members on social media.
For every picture of a kitchen porter posted to Instagram or X, with @winterhalterUK and adding the hashtag #KPday, Winterhalter will give £2.50 to Hospitality Action, up to a maximum of £500. In addition, the best photos will be selected to go up in the gallery on the KP of the Year website (kpoftheyear.com).
Stephen Kinkead, managing director of Winterhalter UK, said: “KP Day is all about having some fun while we applaud the hardworking KPs who keep our industry going. We’ve had some brilliant images over the years, with kitchen brigades having a bit of fun with the KP Day idea.”
Winterhalter is also searching for the 2025 KP of the Year. Since launching in 2013 the competition has garnered widespread praise for its focus on the essential role KPs play in commercial kitchens.
“KP of the Year is hugely important to us at Winterhalter,” added Stephen. “Every year the standard of entries gets more impressive, and it’s always a delight to discover the stories of not just these dedicated KPs but also the entire kitchen teams they work with.”
The winner will be awarded the coveted KP of the Year trophy, £1,000 in vouchers and a celebratory meal for family and friends in a casual dining restaurant of their choice. Furthermore, the winning KP’s employer will get a Winterhalter dishwasher worth up to £10,000. As well as this, two highly commended KPs will receive a certificate and vouchers for hospitality experiences, and every KP nominated will receive a bespoke KP of the Year Oliver Hardy apron.
Nominations for this year’s award close on 29th August 2025 after which date a shortlist of ten will be selected, before a panel of judges made up of industry experts choose the winner.
“We’re looking forward to learning about more of the UK’s most dedicated KPs,” said Stephen. “If you’ve got someone in your kitchen who you want to celebrate, the time to do it is now!”
Links to the nomination form, as well as more information about the competition and previous winners, can be found at www.kpoftheyear.com.
