She is the CEO of Adepejuruth Catering Services. She caters for all kinds events which includes weddings, parties, burials, likewise home services. Her catering services ranges from local and international delicacies. Her culinary skills had not only endeared her to her clients but have made her six times TVC guest.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Adepeju Ruth Dagunro. I am from ilaje ise odo in Ondo state.
Can you tell us the name of your catering services: The name of my catering services is Adepejuruth Catering Services.
Catering is one of the hospitality jobs that comes with wide ranges of responsibilities, how do you handle it?
First impressions are the important ones. It is hospitality afterall. The overall goal of hospitality is to make temporary accommodations feel permanent. This is done by acknowledging customers and clients presence and making them feel welcomed, and most importantly, wanted. No one wants to feel like they are unwelcomed. Seeing that every guest at an event is properly greeted when serving their food, such establishment sets the tone for good customer service.
We know that some clients/guests are a handful, how do you handle these difficult clients?
Personally, I am a playful person. So I handle my customers as my family. I see the difficult ones, as one of my family member who gets angry and how I manage them at home is the same way I manage them at events. Because customers are always right, I just keep smiling and keep soft words to their ear and make them understand.
Has it always been your dream to be a caterer, tending to the needs of people?
Yes I have always loved to be a caterer, my mom used to sell food back in the days and I am always the one who help her in going to the market and buying foodstuffs.
Wow! the culinary skills definitely run in the family. Adepejuruth catering services is a successful business, can you hint us on the attributes of the success of your catering services?
Skill development, be a great marketer. Get to relate with your customers in a friendly way. Control your anger, be ready to accept corrections and be willing to learn new things. Be client friendly, keep to time, reply late messages with apologies.
How long have you been into catering business?
I have been in catering business since 2017
What are your challenges?
Some clients making you book an event and end up changing plans, market prices not been stable, inconsistent power supply.
For a big business like yours, there are people under you how do you handle them?
My team are super great, they have always been there for me anytime and anyday. Sometimes customers do say that no one will know who the boss is because of how I carry them along. We eat together, gist together, likewise play together and be serious when it is time for business. I can be strict at time of events but they know that after then I am back to my playful self. They are the best I give it to them.
How do you perceive food handling?
Wash your hands with soap and water, wear your hand gloves, neat environment, sanitize the environment, cover your nose. Cook every food with natural ingredients fresh from farm. Make sure to use healthy oil for all cooking and frying.
So what do you do at your free time?
What I do at my free time is I go see a movie and then sleep, wake up, eat sleep again and do some gisting with my siblings.
What is your favourite food?
(she laughs) My favourite food is semo and ogbono soup, pounded yam and eforiro plus jollof rice and turkey
Many upcoming caterers look up to you, what advise do you have for them?
They should be patient with clients. And should have the ability to endure stress. Also they should keep to time and always reply messages and calls when missed.
Thank you very much Adepeju Ruth for your time, it is well appreciated: You are welcome, thanks for having me.
