Afzal Kaba

Experience

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  Mocha

  Dec 2002 - Feb 2004

  Barista

  In charge of making different coffees and serving coffees according to outlet standard. Responsible for the inventories and stock taking.

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  Club Seven

  Jul 2004 - Oct 2005

  Head Bartender

  As a Head bartender I was responsible for setting up the menu and keeping up the bar standards.Accountable for ordering, cash management and bar stocks.

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  Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai

  Nov 2005 - Jun 2006

  Head Bartender

  Ensuring systems and procedures were to the International Company Standard. Accountable for daily stock takes, cash up procedure at the end of each shift and responsible for weekly scheduled for all bar staff. Responsible for the training of staff to keep up Hard rock café standards.As Head Bartender I was the direct liaison between the general staff and the management team and this greatly improved my communication and teamwork skills.

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  Emirates Leisure Retail

  Jul 2006 - Jul 2010

  Bar Supervisor

  Worked in there three different venues as mentioned below:Left Bank – Lounge bar & dining in Souk Al Bahar. Best bar food venue by Time Out Dubai 2009.Left Bank – Lounge bar & dining in Souk Madinat Jumeriah. Après – Bar & Lounge in Mall of Emirates. 2nd best bar food venue by Time Out Dubai 2007.Duties: To manage bar and floor.Review and communicate financial information to assist in proactive and timely decision making. Manage monthly and weekly stock-takes and review results and variances with Outlet Manager and Assistant Outlet Manager. Maintain /develop specific departmental control systems in order to meet or exceed beverage margins. Assist Executive Bar Manager in training, pre-openings of future licensed venue, development of beverage portfolio, Implementation and constant monitoring all drink standards and specs. Completing a weekly bar Rota. Establishing, monitoring and controlling beverage par levels. Responsible for all liquor stock ordering. Show less

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  The Big Five Breweries LTD,

  Aug 2010 - Aug 2011

  Bar and lounge manager

  To ensure the seamless running of the entire bar & lounge operation in the most efficient and effective manner. Delivering the highest possible standards of service, whilst being pro-active in maintaining and improving turnover and profitability.To manage bar and floor and to conduct all bar trainings as required.Manage weekly Rota for bar, floor, bouncers & housekeeping staff. Establishing, monitoring and controlling beverage par levels. Completion of stock takes and formulation of gross profit within target, taking appropriate action in the event of stock losses. Responsible for all liquor stock ordering. Manage stock-takes and review results and variances with F& B controller. Maintain /develop specific departmental control systems in order to meet or exceed beverage margins.Solve guest complaints. Develop the beverage portfolio and future cocktail menus. Implementation and constant monitoring all drink standards and specs. Design & setup bar for smooth & speedy service. Show less

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  98 Bar and Lounge

  Oct 2011 - Mar 2013

  Bar and Lounge Manager

  To manage weekly staff Rota, stock take and ordering.Bartend in busy hours and conduct mixology trainings.

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  Ceviche Andina

  Jul 2012 - Nov 2014

  Manager

  To ensure the seamless running of the entire operation in the most efficient and effective manner. Delivering the highest possible standards of service, whilst being pro-active in maintaining and improving turnover and profitability.Basic duties like briefing , take guest complains, managing the shift. cash up, banking and managing staffs.Train new staff, Help bar manager in creating new cocktail list and manage bookings. Ordering chemicals, consumables, cutlery, crockery and linen. Staff duties Rota, manage holidays and organize competitions Control staff costing and manage petty cash. Conduct interviews and trial shifts for new team members. Show less

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  Please Don't Tell Mumbai

  Feb 2015 - Aug 2015

  Bar and Restaurant Manager

  • Development in terms of operations, staff, Beverage portfolio, Sales and quality of service.• Develop type of service that best suits the business operations.• Hiring, performance management and training staff. • Bar, Floor and kitchen duty Rota management.• Bar, floor & till system set up.• Cost and revenue management. • PR, Marketing, Customer service management.• Managing bookings and events• Managing petty cash.• Manage inhouse and catering events of the company. Show less

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  DIAGEO India

  Aug 2015 - Jul 2023

  • Lead Diageo Bar academy nationally (DBA is a training program for beverage professionals runed face to face and online. Diageo Bar Academy India has trained over 10k f&b professionals on beverages in India). • Heading a team of 12 Brand Ambassadors. • Hire and develop brand ambassadors and trainer team for advocacy. • Innovate new company concepts and ideas for sales development for key accounts. • Budget yearly advocacy program. Control and executes brand advocacy budgets. • Planning and execution of Diageo Bar Academy certification courses, World Class training modules for bar, sales, service, management staff and venue owner.Development of yearly training modules for on and off trade in line with commercial strategy. • Planning & execution of World Class and Diageo Bar Academy cocktail competition.• Menu conceptualization, research on market trends to innovate bar menus for clients. • Suggest on-trade strategy to support new product launches. • Cocktail master class and design cocktails for influencers and consumers.• Drive home consumption, create content for social media & print articles on elevating spirits & cocktail culture for top media house. Show less Expert on Whiskies. • Develop Bar owners, managers and bar staff capability to grow the skills with international & WSET accredited courses.• To build the on-trade channel capability and deliver mixology experiences at India’s key on trade outlets & brand event. • Create new trends to grow the industry and bar staff skills & careers. • Hands on approach to raising trade capability.• Always focus on beating the competition through in-depth knowledge of competitor brands and programs. • Plan and deliver training with customers, organize end to end training sessions, implementation of tastings/ events/ experiences and BTL collateral in premium on trade.• Drive Bar Academy agenda for the country. 1. Commercialization & InnovationPartnering with customers on:a. Menu creation: Spirits category planning, designing cocktails etc. b. Creating signature drinks: Create customized drink experiencesc. Serve Rituals: Create tailor- made ritualsd. Bespoke menus: Food pairing with whisky, cocktail themes etce. Hosting Events: High traffic nights(weekends), whisky dinners, nightclub events. f. Manage event bars Show less

  • National Lead- Diageo Bar Academy

    Jul 2021 - Jul 2023

  • Reserved Brand Ambassador

    Aug 2015 - Aug 2021
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  The Spice Route Company, LLC

  Jul 2023 - now

  Beverage Director