b.Consulting Food & Beverage, Hospitality Experts Cambodia is a proud new member of the Cambodian Restaurant Association. To celebrate our integration, we are pleased to publish a blog post on the history of this association, which is structuring the food & beverage industry in Cambodia.
We addressed our questions to the Cambodia Restaurant Association team.
What is the Cambodia Restaurant Association ?
The Cambodia Restaurant Association (CRA) was created in February 2010 with the aim to develop, improve and bring innovation to Cambodia's Restaurant and Food & Beverage sector. It is a non-profit association established in accordance with the Laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia, thereby it is organized in the legal form of a business association and complies with the current laws & regulations of the country.
The CRA does not work alone: It is a chapter of the Cambodia Tourism Federation and has a close relationship with both the Academy of Culinary Arts of Cambodia (ACAC), where it is headquartered, and the Professional Institute of Excellence Association (PIE).
Its long-term goal is to establish a serene and prosperous relationship between the various stakeholders in the F&B industry. To be the leading, independent and representative restaurant and F&B association in Cambodia is its fundamental vision.
It is important to keep in mind that the F&B industry is one of the leading industries in Cambodia and the second largest private sector employer ! As Representant and Defensor of this industry the role of CRA is vital to the country's economic growth, employment, and tourism.
What services does the Cambodia Restaurant Association offer its members?
The CRA is committed to helping its members’ businesses succeed by: Providing valuable tools needed to develop their own restaurant business
As an example, the Cambodian Restaurant Association decided to write a guidebook on regulatory compliance for restaurants in Cambodia, to help them to comply with the relevant authorities.
In fact, the regulatory compliance process for restaurants in Cambodia suffers from a lack of organization and explanation that can heavily discourage the restaurant owners from registering their company. Indeed, an entrepreneur who wants to open and register his restaurant business has to look after a multitude of information that is scattered everywhere, in a disorganized way and sometimes the content is not clear nor reliable.
Therefore, the CRA wrote this guidebook which gathers all the information an entrepreneur has to know in order to launch his restaurant in Cambodia. It covers and describes in detail all the mandatory legal obligations on businesses licensing, registration and overall compliance when operating restaurant business in Cambodia.
The Cambodia Restaurant Association also improves competitiveness and quality standards in this industry. Its support is also government-wide as they help create a set of standard references in three areas: Health & Hygiene, Employment & Work, Commercial & Quality Label. Thus, they represent its members at the regional and national level with all the Cambodian Government Agencies. Moreover, the CRA generates employment in the restaurant sector.
More specifically, CRA members can benefit from the following advantages:
Up to date News (government & industry),
Industry training courses,
Workshops and seminars,
Regular networking events,
Exclusive discounts & access to valuable contents,
Legislative & regulatory representations
Promotion of your business as well.
How are they managing to strengthen food and beverages services operations throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia ?
The CRA is an advocate for restaurants and the broad food service industry. The association keeps its members informed about changes in legislation and business regulatory matters at the local and national level that will affect the way they run their company. Hence by the tool of advocacy, the CRA is committed to helping its members’ businesses to succeed.
Furthermore, the CRA is a real intermediary between the government and the F&B sector.
As an example, recently the Ministry of Environment asked the CRA to conduct a survey toward its members regarding the amount to be paid compulsorily to the endowment fund of the Ministry of Environment.
This Survey was aiming to get feedback from its members regarding the implementation of the Ministry of Environment’s Prakas No. 356 dated November 23rd 2022. Pursuant to Prakas No. 356, all restaurants regardless of the number of chairs are subject to an environmental protection contract with the Department of Environment.
Therefore, Cambodia Restaurant Association initiated this survey in order to solicit comments from all members, from which the CRA could make recommendations to the Department of Environment, to determine the specific amount that restaurant must pay to the endowment Fund.
This relevant example testifies to the confidence and credibility that the government places in the CRA. Meanwhile, it ensures transparency and legal certainty for the private sector.
How does the CRA communicate about changes in the food industry?
CRA strives to keep its members informed about the latest trends in the Cambodian F&B industry landscape through regular reports, workshops, seminars, or by merely sending information.
A few months ago, the Cambodia Restaurant Association organized a workshop on new marketing trends in the F&B industry. From this valuable exchange of expertise, they were able to conclude that trends such as healthy food, delivery and take-away, vegetarian and vegan options, sustainability and local products, as well as new technologies (such as POS systems) will be more prominent in the coming years. Restaurateurs have to constantly adapt to their customers’ new expectations in order to remain competitive and increase sales. Staying up to date on the latest trends in the F&B industry is vital for restaurants if they want to attract and retain their clients.
What events are organized by the CRA?
On Thursday 27th of July, the Cambodian Restaurant Association organized a workshop upon a crucial issue in Cambodia: Food Safety: “HOW CAN YOU ENSURE FOOD SAFETY?” Stay up to date with the latest food safety regulations & standards. Discover essential tools you need to maximize your customers' security ».
Their 4 panelists who come from both the government and private sectors, shared to participants valuable insights & knowledge about food security in Cambodia.
This was an occasion to discuss these following key points:
• Overview of food safety in Cambodia: current situation and challenges, impact on public health and the economy.
• Food safety regulations & standards: National and international standards, compliance and enforcement.
• Good hygiene practices: Importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling and storage practices, cleaning & sanitation.
• Risk assessment and management: Identifying and assessing potential food safety hazards, implementing risk management strategies.
• Collaboration & partnership: Roles and responsibilities of government, F&B industry, consumers.
The next workshop in august will probably cover the topic of taxation for the F&B sector, and the next one will cover the IT issue (September).
This year the CRA is once again a key organizer and host of the Cambodia National Barista Championship (CNBC), alongside the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia Tourism Federation, and the KOFI Academy.
Barista competition is a competition focusing on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging nationwide audiences with an annual championship event in Cambodia.
What is the competition? Each barista is given a time limit, in which they must make four sets of espresso, milk coffee, and signature beverages. Competitors are judged on Sensorial and Technical skills. A barista’s sensorial skill is determined from the taste, texture, flavor, and presentation of their beverages. Judges are on the lookout for a contestant’s skill in harmoniously pairing the taste of coffee with other flavors in their signature beverage. On the technical side, judges want to ensure each barista understands the correct procedures to making coffee, knows how to brew espresso using the approved steps (in the correct order), and leaves the area cleaned according to competition guidelines.
The objectives of this event are:
To provide a platform for all sectors of the coffee industry to share information and jointly promote consumption and trade.
To create awareness and promote the coffee industry in Cambodia.
To represent the coffee industry at national and international forums.
To encourage young as well as promote barista generation skills across the nation wide..
The CRA is currently fully involved in the competition planning (recruitment of judges, finding of sponsors, registration of volunteers, participants, competitors, logistics,) to make this event a success.
How to become a member of the CRA?
The CRA proposes 6 types of membership, depending on your business size & features.
Anyone with a link to the F&B sector can join the CRA: you can be an individual restaurant owner, an entrepreneur, a large restaurant group, as well as an F&B supplier or consultant.
The membership process is very simple, we can divide it in 5 steps:
1- Submit your membership form:
Check out CRA membership opportunities & services
Identify & choose the membership type that is eligible for you or your business
2- Submit the required documents:
Submit the supporting documents in the online application: Certificate of registration from the Ministry of Commerce or Patent Tax Certificate - Company Logo
3- Review of the application form:
The completed application will be reviewed by the CRA board of directors
The approval application will get the Welcome New Member Email
4- Payment:
The membership invoice will be issued and sent upon the successful applicant/company.
5- Become a CRA member:
CRA membership gets activated
Create a company profile on the CRA website
Join our events and advocacy committees
Benefit from our exclusive discounts & large range of services
Cambodia Restaurant Association Facebook page - click-here
Cambodia Restaurant Association LinkedIn page - click-here
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