News

Pizza, Process and Practical Design Thinking

Elizabeth and Ruby recently visited Jestic Foodservice Solutions for the Alfa Professional Pizza Oven Masterclass, held at Jestic’s development kitchen in Paddock Wood.

For Ruby, who joined MYA that same week, it was an early introduction to the real machinery of the foodservice world. Not just drawings, schedules and specifications, but dough, heat, ventilation, equipment performance and the small operational details that shape how spaces actually work.

The session explored different dough-making methods and how technique affects the final result. Elizabeth and Ruby also saw electric and gas pizza ovens demonstrated, made their own pizzas, cooked them, and, in the interests of professional development, ate a considerable amount of pizza. A brutal assignment, but someone had to carry the burden.

They were very well looked after by the Jestic and Alfa teams, who brought real expertise, generosity and a proper sense of craft to the day.

For MYA, visits like this matter. Every time our team gets hands-on with equipment, they understand more about how it performs in live environments. That might mean oven behaviour, ventilation strategies, workflow, space planning, ingredient handling, or the practical difference between one food offer and another.

That knowledge feeds directly back into better design. The more our designers understand the equipment, the operators and the food itself, the better we can create spaces that are efficient, intelligent and fit for purpose.

And the proof came quickly. Since the visit, Elizabeth has already spotted an Alfa electric pizza oven installed in a food truck and recognised it immediately.

That is why we get involved. Better understanding makes better designers.

If you’re planning a foodservice, hospitality or catering space and want design advice grounded in real operational knowledge, talk to MYA

  • We recently worked with the team at MYA on a bid for a tender for multiple catering sites. Their proactive, innovative and dynamic approach to the task was a breath of fresh air, and we were able to work systematically through a complex set of designs with an abundance of creativity and design options to consider. Throughout the whole process, the team at MYA were fully engaged and, above all, great fun to work with. I will definitely be working with the team again on future projects and would highly recommend them as design consultants.

    Steven Braithwaite, Managing Director, Somerset Larder
  • We recently had the pleasure of collaborating with MYA on the City of London School for Girls project at the Barbican, London. One of the standout aspects of MYA’s involvement was their swift, detailed, and highly effective coordination of design elements. MYA’s proactive approach, attention to detail, and dedication to achieving design harmony made them an invaluable partner in this project. Their ability to strategically align diverse design aspects contributed significantly to the success of the collaboration, reinforcing the importance of well-integrated teamwork in delivering high-quality solutions.

    Simon Spiteri, Director/Architect, Cowan Architects
  • The team, led by Carla McKenzie, were meticulous in every detail. They modelled the cleaning requirements to deliver the optimum solution for the facilities across EMEA, and really took time to understand the culture of our business. I have no hesitation in recommending MYA and its team – they are dedicated and innovative, and always go the extra mile.

    Natalia Ros Vargas, Office Team Leader, Booking.com
  • Carla and her team have broad experience in the industry. Apart from being very supportive in inventing (new) concepts, they also make use of their many years of experience when implementing these concepts. Their ultimate goal is to let people enjoy honest and good food.

    Marcel Bisselink, Owner, Daily Fresh Food, Galeen, Netherlands
  • Carla and her team worked tirelessly with us to ensure our very international and cross-cultural needs were met with great creativity and skill. They listened to us, responded to our needs and delivered above expectations.

    Angela Hencher, Director of Business Administration, Dulwich College, Shanghai Pudong
  • They are brave enough to challenge others in pursuit of the ultimate solution, whether it be behind the scenes with kitchen flow and catering management, or front-of-house service and design.

    Richard Russell, Catering Equipment Distributor Director, Western Blueprint
  • If all companies who serve the independent school sector had your breadth of vision and openness of mind, I have little doubt that the sector would be a richer and more exciting place to be.

    Phillip Godfrey, Bursar, Halliford School
  • During the negotiation process, Carla’s knowledge and expertise enabled our company to achieve a very strong commercial outcome, and some significant savings were yielded from the exercise.

    Penny Arnold, Commercial & Operations Director, Fusion Lifestyle