We recently spoke with Ryan Holmes, Culinary Director for Business & Industry at Compass Group, about how WearerTech shoes have made a real difference for his team. From fostering a strong kitchen culture to ensuring everyone’s uniform is consistent, Ryan shared why comfortable, supportive footwear is a must-have.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, Compass Group, and the services you provide?
I’m Ryan Holmes, Culinary Director for Business & Industry at Compass Group. I oversee workplace feeding across our sub-brands: 14Forty, Dine, and Eurest. I’ve been with Compass for 10 years, and it’s been a brilliant journey. I’ve had a few different roles, and through it all, it’s always been the people that make this place special.

Can you share some key moments that shaped your career?
One of the biggest moments for me was working in France early on. I went out there as a young, confident chef and quickly realised I had a lot to learn. That experience changed my perspective. Since then, I’ve made it a priority to support my teams and surround myself with great people, and it’s helped shape the leader I am today.

With your experience in professional kitchens, how have you seen footwear and comfort impact kitchen teams?

One thing I’ve always noticed in kitchens is the importance of uniform. You need to look good in your uniform, feel good, and then you’ll do good work. As culinarians, we work long hours, so comfort is key. Whether it’s your chef whites, apron, or trousers, everything associated with being a chef matters, but what you wear on your feet is the most important. If your feet aren’t comfortable during a long shift, it’s going to be painful.

Footwear has become more and more important over the years. I remember the first pair of heavy clogs I wore. Looking back, they were terribly uncomfortable. But over time, footwear has improved, and now at Compass Group, having really comfortable shoes is a must. It’s a game changer compared to many of our competitors.

Before switching to WearerTech shoes, what challenges did your team face?

Before we switched to WearerTech shoes, we didn’t have a consistent offering. You’d walk into our kitchens and see people wearing all sorts of different footwear, some more traditional, some a bit more unconventional. What we’ve done now is provide a consistent product that everyone believes in. When I walk into our kitchens, I want to see my team all wearing the same footwear. Everyone talks about how comfortable they are – they’re their go-to shoes.

Having a consistent product we know works is a big differentiator for us. It ensures everyone in the kitchen is comfortable, and that’s key.

How have WearerTech shoes helped, and what improvements have you seen?

WearerTech shoes have genuinely made a difference for our culinarians across the country. They’ve added that extra level of comfort that really matters.

Now, whenever we take on a new contract, one of the first things we do is make sure every new starter gets a comfortable pair of shoes. It’s made a huge impact—not just on well-being, but on morale. People are happier, and that leads to better productivity because they’ve been given a uniform that actually feels good to wear.

What do safety and employee well-being mean to Compass Group, and how do our shoes support that?
Safety is our number one priority. We want everyone to come into work and go home safely. Footwear is a massive part of that. If your shoes aren’t safe or comfortable, you’re not setting people up to succeed. It’s in our DNA to care for our people—and that shows in every detail, down to what they’re wearing on their feet.

What advice would you give to other chefs choosing footwear?

My message to other chefs when it comes to the shoes our culinarians wear is this: try to look beyond the cost. It’s easy to compare prices and focus on the numbers. But we have to remember that our chefs are working incredibly hard, often putting in long hours in tough kitchen environments. Their comfort really matters.

Sometimes, cost isn’t the most important factor. It’s about the person wearing the shoes. It’s about making sure they feel supported and comfortable in their workspace. And when you invest in that, you’ll often see so much more in return, happier teams, better performance, and a stronger kitchen culture overall.

We're proud to support teams like Ryan’s, making it easier for professionals to stay on their feet, stay focused, and feel their best.