Wood-fired margherita pizza pulled from the oven

Food & hospitality consultancy — est. 2020

Adding value to
food businesses

We work with global brands, restaurants and influencers with taste, striking the balance between quality, speed and execution.

About

A consultancy built inside real kitchens

Dec's Kitchen provides end-to-end food and hospitality services, from the first concept sketch to the hundredth cover on a Friday night. We've built brands, fixed kitchens and cut food costs across seven countries.

Global reach

7

countries operated in

Dubai·UK·Australia·New Zealand·North America·Malaysia·Europe

Chef checking a dish on the pass in a professional kitchen

Scale

20+

years in hospo

Launches

100+

brands and kitchens launched

Clients

Sides logoMrBeast Burger logoSelfridges logoDeliveroo logoBarilla logoHeinz logoDoritos logoBen & Jerry's logoASDA logoLean Kitchen Network logofoodpanda logoBurgerFuel logoHouse Foods logoJack & Bry logoEatphoria logoWafflemeister logoOpSpot logoCollab Coffee logoLife Care Residences logoBlobfish International logoMalmö logoSides logoMrBeast Burger logoSelfridges logoDeliveroo logoBarilla logoHeinz logoDoritos logoBen & Jerry's logoASDA logoLean Kitchen Network logofoodpanda logoBurgerFuel logoHouse Foods logoJack & Bry logoEatphoria logoWafflemeister logoOpSpot logoCollab Coffee logoLife Care Residences logoBlobfish International logoMalmö logo

Services

What we actually do

Fried chicken lifted from the fryer during recipe testing
Chef working the line in a delivery-first kitchen
Chef running service inside a mobile kitchen unit
Dec's Kitchen chef team at a brand launch event
Dec Penfold checking dishes on the pass during service

How we work

Simple to start, thorough once we're in

01

Discovery call

Free 30 minutes. The business, the problem, what good looks like.

02

A simple proposal

One page: scope, deliverables, timeline, fixed price.

03

Aligning timelines

Milestones set around your service and launch date, then locked in.

04

We get going

Boots in the kitchen until it launches, and after.

Chef working the line during a kitchen build

In the kitchen

What “we get going” looks like, adapted to the project.

R&DMenu developmentOperational designSupply chainTrainingLaunchPost-launch support
Plating dishes at the pass during service
Wings being finished during recipe development
The Dec's Kitchen team on site at a brand launch

Proof

Trusted by ambitious food brands

Testimonial

They were the integral ingredient to launching the concept — market experience, operational know-how, supply chain and creative expertise to collaboratively adapt the menu.

Luke Thomas

Celebrity chef · Owner, Cafe Habana & Retro Feasts

Testimonial

Dec is the go-to expert for turning food concepts into scalable, high-performing brands. His deep industry knowledge, operational expertise, and ability to execute at scale make him an invaluable partner at Opspot. In a rapidly evolving QSR landscape, Dec understands what it takes to drive success.

Nick Paine

OpSpot

Testimonial

Dec is one of the most innovative and strategic food consultants I've worked with. His ability to transform ideas into commercially successful food concepts is second to none. From concept development to execution, Dec's expertise and attention to detail are invaluable. Highly recommend!

Mic Zagami

Square Agency

Testimonial

Dec brings a unique edge to the food industry, combining his deep UK experience with a sharp understanding of the NZ market. His ability to create, scale, and optimise brands is unmatched, making him a key player in the evolution of modern hospitality. Working with him across Kitchen Collective and now as partners in VBNZ, I've seen firsthand how his expertise transforms concepts into commercially successful ventures. If you're looking to build something game-changing, Dec is the one to have in your corner.

Harrison Stott

The Kitchen Collective NZ

Testimonial

Dec's talents as a chef go far beyond the development of delicious food items; his broad range of experience allows him to create menus that are optimised for the restaurants' target markets and commercial models.

Stuart Robertson

Mean Consulting

Testimonial

Dec is an incredible food consultant who really helped us bring our brand to life. While he's the expert, he always listens and works hard to turn the vision in your head into reality. He's easy to work with, with a great personality and a wealth of knowledge and experience. We couldn't have done it without him!

Dinesh

Crafty Baker NZ

Testimonial

Having worked alongside Dec for over a decade, I've seen firsthand his unmatched passion, creativity, and deep understanding of the food industry. His ability to turn ideas into successful, scalable brands is second to none. Dec's leadership, innovation, and attention to detail make him an incredible partner in any food venture.

Dino

Lead Chef & Head of Launch, Dec's Kitchen

Testimonial

I was lucky enough to have worked alongside Dec within the Deliveroo Special Projects Team. Dec is a highly organised and innovative chef leader with a contagious passion for food and an impressive knowledge of the hospitality industry. Dec is an expert in his field and a pioneer in both the virtual brand and restaurant space.

Rhys Richardson

Eat Curious

Range of glazed chicken wings plated for a menu development session

Capability

Menus costed before they're cooked

Every dish arrives with a spec, a yield and a GP — so the kitchen and the P&L agree with each other.

Team

Meet the team

Dec Penfold, Founder & Director

Dec Penfold

Founder & Director

20+ years across food & hospitality. Created and franchised some of the most commercially successful virtual brands on the major delivery platforms. Regular moderator and panelist at food conferences worldwide.

Dino Palazzo, Lead Chef & Head of Launch

Dino Palazzo

Lead Chef & Head of Launch

Fine dining to QSR over 15 years, alongside high-profile chefs. The master of a kitchen set-up, and the chef to get any kitchen back on its feet.

Press & speaking

Podcasts, panels and press

Dec Penfold speaking on an industry panel
Dec Penfold on the Metaverse Applications for the Food Industry panel in Dubai

Monthly newsletter

From The Pass

Dec's monthly read on what's actually happening in hospitality — menu and margin trends, delivery and virtual brands, what's working across the UK, Gulf, Asia-Pacific and North America, plus the odd blunt opinion. One email a month, no filler, unsubscribe any time.

From The Pass newsletter shown on a laptop and phone

Got a concept, a kitchen or a problem?

Thirty minutes, no pitch deck. Tell us where the business is and we'll tell you what we'd do first.

Send a message