MCFT turns 30!

Since 1992 MCFT has been maintaining and servicing kitchens. From humble roots as a fabrication shop, making counters, MCFT has developed a global presence. There is now a team of 170 engineers on the road, in five countries, working in the kitchens of businesses, schools, colleges, stately homes, hospitals, care homes and airports, backed up by an office team that provide service support.

The key to MCFT’s success has been consistently delivering quality and excellence around the world and earning a reputation as a leader in the kitchen maintenance industry. 

CEO - Chris Craggs says: 

“We have ridden out recessions, economic downturns, political chaos and a pandemic. We’ve done this by staying focused on what we do best - fixing fridges and ovens. Quality is paramount, and we believe it’s our approach to people that sets us apart – along with our unique, in-house, industry-focused software."



The business became IIP (Investors in People) accredited in 2006, when a strategic decision was made to focus on the development of people within the organisation. In 2016 MCFT was one of just 20 companies out of 40,000 to be awarded IIP Platinum status.

In 2016 an internal Learning and Development programme was created to formally train and develop both engineers and office staff - this received the Princess Royal Training Award in 2017, and was recognised and assured by City & Guilds in 2018.

Overseas expansion started after a visit to Dubai in 2014 with offices in the UAE in 2015; at the same time an internship programme was established with Breda and Hanze universities in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands office opened in 2021, and a Philippines office is on the agenda for 2022.

Accounts Manager, Catriona Hamilton celebrates a 20 year anniversary, having joined the business in 2002. She concludes:

"It’s a bit of a cliché but it’s been an incredible journey. Being part of something that has come from half dozen engineers to the international company that now is MCFT has been amazing. And it’s doesn’t stop! Always looking forward, always striving to be better.”

A brief history...

1992        Set up a fabrication shop, buying equipment as finances allowed

1998         Engineers business starts under the name Site Catering Engineers
 

1998         First project for the Royal Household : Buckingham Palace Temporary Kitchen Ventilation Canopies

2002         Move to new office in St Peter’s Road, Maidenhead.

2006         Strategic realisation that people development is the key to continual and future growth. Business became IIP accredited

                  (Investors in people)

2008         Global crisis UK recession led to rethink of strategy and decision to focus solely on service and maintenance

2011         Awarded the Royal Warrant by appointment to HM the Queen

2015         McFarlane Telfer went international with establishment of business in United Arab Emirates

                  Development of international intern placement programmes with Breda and Hanze Dutch universities

2016         MCFT becomes member of CFESA, First European member to this North American association

                  Qatar office opened as Middle Eastern business goes from strength to strength

                  Learning and Development academy created in-house

                  IIP Platinum awarded (one of the first 20 companies out of 40,000 to be awarded this accolade)

2017         Awarded Princess Royal Training Award for Technical Academy
 

2017         Launch of IRIS, state of the art customer portal

2018         In-house training programmes recognised as City & Guilds Assured. The business grows to 160 personnel including 90

                  directly employed engineers.

2019         MCFT opens offices in Saudi Arabia – Riyadh and Jeddah – as well as a satellite team in Dammam, supporting key 

                  equipment brands in top QSR brands and hotels. Two recruitment roadshows in the Philippines as UAE and Qatar teams

                  continue to grow

                  UK teams grow with new cohorts of trainees, a developing higher apprenticeship programme

2021         Netherlands office opens, quickly starts delivering services in Belgium

Brand Development

McFarlane Telfer has often been shortened to ‘McFarlane’s” or “Telfer’s”. When the business expanded into new territories such as the Gulf, it became clear that the name McFarlane Telfer doesn’t translate into all languages and a simple version was required. Following the format of many international brands (GSK, KPMG)...

MCFT was adopted.

The logo has evolved with the business, going through several iterations over the years. Engineers are affectionately referred to as hot or cold, depending on whether they specialise in ovens or fridges. In 2016 a new clean, crisp logo, internally known as ‘fire and ice’ was designed to represent the 2 sides of the company. 

2016 - Fire & Ice logo