San Carlo Restaurant Group
Kassem Najjar is an experienced professional in health and food safety management with a career spanning over two decades. Currently serving as the Health & Safety and Food Safety Manager at San Carlo Restaurant Group since July 2022, Kassem has previously held positions such as Food Safety Manager at Ya Sham LTD and Operations Manager at UKC. Expertise includes implementing international standards like HACCP and ISO certifications, conducting audits, and providing training on food safety. Kassem's early career included roles as Executive Chef and Restaurant Manager at Maroush Group, demonstrating strong managerial skills and team training capabilities. Education includes a Bachelor of Technology in F&B from the Lebanese Hospitality School and a Level 4 in HACCP Management from Highfield-UK, complemented by a Communication Skills Program from the Qatar Center for Career Development.
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San Carlo Restaurant Group
Our story The Distefano family, spanning two generations, started San Carlo over 30 years ago and seen it grow to twenty-five authentic Italian restaurants across the UK – from Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Knightsbridge in London to Bristol, Leicester, Liverpool Leeds, Cheshire and Manchester and with a growing number overseas – including Kuwait, Bangkok and Qatar and with new sites set to open in Bahrain, Dubai and Riyadh. Our values In a world dominated by big chains and centralised kitchens, San Carlo stands out with defiant independence. Each of their award-winning Italian restaurants has its own team of skilled chefs and managers, committed to crafting every dish onsite using only the finest Italian seasonal produce – a genuine love for excellent food, top-notch service, and undeniable style.