On Monday, October 7, the tenth generation of participants began their professional training as part of Raise the Bar Academy, a free educational program by Coca-Cola HBC Adria. Among more than 170 applicants, the expert team selected 15 bartenders, baristas, and waiters who will elevate their practical and theoretical knowledge under the guidance of bartender and co-owner of Peaches & Cream bar, lead instructor Dominik Bečvardi.
„To date, over 80 participants have successfully completed the Academy, and most of them are now working in the best restaurants and bars in Croatia. The success of participants confirms that essential training and education, which go beyond traditional boundaries, are necessary for the advancement of the hospitality sector. The number of applications we received shows that there is no lack of ambitious individuals in hospitality looking to build their careers in this field. It is our responsibility to provide them with the opportunity to achieve their ambitions, and that is why we are proud that Coca-Cola HBC Adria will enable yet another generation of participants to learn from experts and gain the experience that will contribute to the further growth of quality in hospitality”, stated Dora Strezova-Nikolova, General Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Adria.
Raise the Bar Academy stands out for its approach to education, which encourages participants to reflect on every segment of their work and adopt a creative approach. In-depth knowledge of equipment, ingredients, and processes, along with the application of modern techniques, will enable participants to approach their work in an innovative way. On this journey they will be supported by guest lecturers and top experts, including sommelier Marko Rundek, director and owner of Zmajska Brewery Andrej Čapka, owner of SOI Fusion Vedran Gulin, and Mišel Posavac, Advocacy Brand Manager at Monin.
The Academy is a part of the strategic platform Raise the Bar Adria, through which Coca-Cola HBC Adria has been contributing to the improvement of the education quality of the workforce in hospitality and tourism since 2019. The goal of the platform is to align the skills and knowledge of hospitality and tourism professionals with the needs of employers. In addition to the Academy, the project includes Scholarships for chefs and pastry chefs and Raise the Bar Youth, an educational program aimed at final-year students in hospitality and tourism schools.
