MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Compass Group Canada has launched its innovation division to stay ahead of industry trends by investing in technology, new culinary concepts, sustainability and frictionless experiences.
Led by Chief Innovation Officer, Michael Hachey, and newly appointed vice-president of Innovation, Heather Wilkie, the new innovation division includes experts across multiple fields, including user experience design, AI consulting, technology transformation, go-to-market, consumer research and sustainability. This division builds on Compass Group Canada’s launch of its tech-division, Compass Digital Labs (CDL) in 2016, with a broader scope on the customer of the future and plan for their experience in food and hospitality.
“Innovation isn’t just a buzz word at Compass Group Canada, it is truly interwoven in our DNA. By devoting a division to innovation, we are investing in future-proofing the industry for our guests and clients,” says Wilkie. “We hope to tap into the real needs of our customers and finding those true value-add and exciting experiences that offer something new. We don’t want to be different just for the sake of it – we want to respond to real inefficiencies, real needs and real wants.”
“Innovation is, at its core, a trial-and-error process. My team knows that’s it’s okay to fail – in fact, it’s a requirement if we want to truly be change-makers in this industry. This team is casting a wide net, looking at several potential game-changers across multiple fields, and trying them out,” says Hachey. “We aren’t afraid to test and try lots of concepts – knowing not everything will stick. The reward is in the challenge and finding those key pieces that truly elevate our guest experience.”
The team is already moving forward with more than 30 potential new innovations to test run over the next few years.
