Target's 2024 Project of the Year: A Star Achievement
By David Pedrette - Managing Director, Target Catering Equipment
Coventry City Football Club’s Training Ground Players Kitchen
“It’s always hard to choose just one, but, a project that made me most proud this year has to be the design, supply, and fit-out of Coventry City Football Club's new training ground players kitchen at Sky Blue Lodge. Our clients required an ultra-fast turnaround, and the Target team came together from start to finish, delivering an exceptional result.”
Crafting a Modern and Functional Kitchen
Target designed an all-electric commercial kitchen tailored to fit the newly refurbished training ground facility. The focus was to provide professional footballers and staff with high-end, healthy cuisine while avoiding the use of deep-fat fryers.
The project also involved the design and manufacture of a specialist free-standing commercial kitchen ventilation system that incorporated air supply and extraction. This included an island extractor for front-of-house open kitchen use in a low-ceiling dining area. The system featured an electrical service manifold with switchgear, powered by a Schneider distribution board with RCD and surge protection devices to ensure safety for both people and equipment. The kitchen showcased cutting-edge energy-saving technologies, including sophisticated Target commercial induction range cookers, Adande refrigeration and the advanced Hounö Invoq hybrid steam combination ovens.
Efficient Dishwashing and Flexible Storage Solutions
The project included a bespoke dishwashing system featuring a state-of-the-art Meiko passthrough dishwasher with steam condensate heat recovery system. Alongside this, we installed Target bespoke fabricated items including bespoke dishwash tabling with sinks, creating an efficient pot-wash and dishwashing area. This also incorporated a dedicated bespoke Target waste station for tray-clearing, waste-sorting, and recycling for use front of house by the players.
For food storage, Adande drawer refrigeration was chosen for its ability to switch seamlessly between fridge and freezer modes. This adaptability provided ultimate flexibility to meet changing demands.
Innovative Front-of-House Cooking Station
Reconfiguring existing front counters allowed us to create a front-of-house cooking station for cook-to-order items. This unique setup would enhance the service offerings that could be delivered by the caterers at Sky Blue Lodge, delivering a standout experience for their customers.
Overcoming Challenges with Smart Solutions
During the project, unexpected structural support steelwork impacted the original design. However, Target’s fabrication team expertly resolved these issues with smart thinking and modifications. Their proactive approach ensured there were no delays, allowing the project to be completed on time and within budget.
To ensure a seamless handover, full user training was provided by equipment manufacturers on-site. The chefs were thrilled with their new kitchen, designed to meet their professional needs.
Team Excellence in Project Management
The project was expertly managed by Target’s Charlotte Pedrette, making it one of the smoothest operations to date. Special equipment design was led in-house by head of product design Nicola Pedrette and her team, who ensured every detail was executed to perfection.
Looking Ahead…
With this prestigious project successfully completed, we look forward to the next year and the next opportunity to design, supply, and fit out a unique project that will once again make Target proud.