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Eldred Training and Development was formed in 1987 to supply short course training for owners, managers and supervisors working within the hospitality industry. We are a private company and are proudly self sufficient - we do not receive funding from any other source. This means we are free to innovate and are geared to react rapidly to changing economic or market forces.

All our services have been developed in conjunction with leading hospitality operators in our region, then tested and refined in the reality of the workplace. High quality training is still the core of our business and is the platform from which we have developed all other business activities.

In 1989 we began providing management expertise at the request of business owners who attended our training courses. Fully realising that training is not a universal cure-all, we began to work within our client's businesses, guiding them to create stronger, more stable teams. This led to the development of the skills and procedures to guide a small or medium sized business in the transition to a structured company or into multiple location operation, or a large business into management based on responsibility and accountability.

We have continued to expand and develop our management skills and are now able to offer an extensive range of flexible, integrated services that include executive search, recruiting and marketing. We will continue to add to our range as new procedures and systems are proved in the workplace.

In 1992 we began to gather together a group of products that compliment our training and consulting activities from all over the world. The process is a slow one - we only want the best. Each potential new product is evaluated by our clients and reviewed extensively by our staff. It has to work and must be cost effective. (see the main menu for our full range of products and services).

We are also in the process of developing a range of multi media training modules for worldwide distribution to the hospitality industry via the Internet. These will become available as soon as they have been beta tested.

• we aim to provide businesses with training, advice and management support services that are both expert and practical;
• our staff are chosen for a track record of successful management performance and an ability to effectively communicate;
• we teach the skills we practice, and we practice the skills we teach;
• our services are based on solid experience gained by working within and assisting many businesses;
• our fee structure reflects the belief that good management specialists are an affordable investment with a swift return;
• an initial consultation should carry no obligation and no fee.

After attending Caulfield Grammar School until 1970, Tony joined Kentucky Fried Chicken Pty Ltd as an Assistant Store Manager. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was one of two Australian employees selected for a three month fast track senior management development program at KFC's head office in Sydney. On completion of the program he was promoted to Area Training Manager (Southern Region).

In 1974 at the age of 22 he was appointed Area Sales/Operations Manager with total accountability for 15 KFC stores in Victoria and New South Wales. During the following four years with KFC, Tony's management development continued and included numerous external training courses and research attachments to several major KFC suppliers: VisyBoard Pty Ltd, Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd and Southern Packers Pty Ltd. During this period he was also KFC's representative to the Retail Traders' Association.

In 1980 he was approached by the international confectionery and beverage giant, Cadbury Schweppes Ltd to be Victorian Manager of one of their subsidiaries, Associated Home Deliveries Pty Ltd. AHD is a beverage manufacturer and distributor with 500 employees, 220 trucks and two large distribution depots. In the role of State Manager Tony was required to completely restructure the company, develop and implement a management control system, negotiate annual agreements and liaise with the Transport Workers' Union and the Storemen and Packers' Union. He remained with Cadbury Schweppes for three years.

In 1983 Tony left the company to study Law at Melbourne University. Shortly after commencing, he was offered the specially created, part-time role of Training Manager for the Hilton Hotel in Melbourne, with responsibility for developing and presenting management and supervisory training courses in Hilton properties around Australia, and acting as mentor for the Company's five Management Cadets. He stayed with Hilton for the four years he was at university.

At the age of 35, Tony decided to start his own business and formed Eldred Training & Development Pty Ltd in June 1987 after a decision to continue in a management career rather than practicing Law. At present, his company provides management and training services for a broad range of companies both inside and outside the hospitality industry.

A prolific writer, he is well known for his monthly page on hospitality management issues that has been appearing in the Australian trade magazine, Inside Dining since 1987. Tony has also contributed regular articles to the Restaurant and Caterer's magazine What's Cooking?; the Australian Institute of Management magazine, The AIM Journal; and many other magazines and periodicals.

Tony holds the following professional accreditations:

• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Hospitality Management (FAIHM)
• Associate fellow of the Catering Institute of Australia (AFCIA)
• Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (AFAIM)
• Member of the Australian Institute of Training & Development (MAITD)
• Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (MAHRI)

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