INDUSTRY FEATURE
Zafira Fine Foods
Zafira Fine Foods can be found tucked away in Gormanston Road, Moonah in a former takeaway shop. Venturing inside you can find a cosy, traditional Afghan restaurant serving authentic food cooked the traditional way. Zafira has been open for almost four years and provides employment and training to people arriving as refugees predominantly from Afghanistan.
Zafira Fine Foods also offers monthly cooking classes and a cultural experience to introduce customers to the hospitality traditions and customs of the Hazara people of Afghanistan. It is supported in the work by Friends of Zafira which provides a range of programs to support people settling in Tasmania from Afghanistan. It also operates a community garden at the rear of Zafira Fine Foods and is about to start an innovative employment program aimed at supporting Hazara people into work and training opportunities. Operator, Kirsten Singleton has recently particpated in the Great Customer Experience program, with fantastic engagement and committment to upskill the staff. Through THA’s corporate partnership with Energy ROI, Kirsten will also save $1600 per year off the venue’s energy bill. Zafira Fine Foods is open Monday to Saturday for lunch from 11am to 3pm and Thursday to Saturday evening for dinner and takeaway. Zafira Fine foods - 35 Gormanston Road, Moonah
Staff member Habiba serves traditional Afghani dishes at Zafira FIne Foods in Moonah
Meet the Board – Martin Kelly
What do you love about the hospitality industry? I love the fact you deal with such a range of diverse people. One day you can be in a meeting with the CEO of a national organisation, and the next day meeting the locals in the front bar of a suburban pub. They all have Martin Kelly is the General Manager of Vantage Group, overseeing the operations of community-based hotels across Tasmania and the 9/11 Bottleshop retail liquor chain, employing over 420 people Statewide. Martin is the Vice-President of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association .
their own story, and I find it fascinating. How long have you been in the industry?
I’ve been in and around the industry since 1986. I’ve spent most of my time in supplier land working predominantly with CCA and Lion but the last 5 years have been the other side of the fence working with Vantage Group running hotels and botttleshops. What is the value of the THA to the hospitality industry?
I think the true value of the THA is that it can be different things to different people. It might be IR support, lobbying government, or simply solving problems or answering questions. Whatever support or advice a member needs, the THA can provide or access that support.
THA HOSPITALITY—REVIEW: JUNE 2021 | 25
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