Work as one to all thrive
LA FETTUCCINA’S JOHN JAPP KNOWS IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR THE FAR NORTH’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO SURVIVE THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES AND BEYOND, WRITES
JOHN Japp just wants to get on with business.
Trade is ticking along for the owner of restaurant demolition and supply hub Procure One and longstanding Italian trattoria La Fettuccina.
The Shields Street CBD mainstay, fresh from a renovation, has navigated the postlockdown world with the former Papua New Guinea expat’s hand firmly on the tiller.
“All of my staff have turned up for work,” Mr Japp said.
“They are on the full whack, we look after our staff and we have a safe environment.
“Our priority is our staff, then our customers.”
He has managed to avoid a recent phenomenon – coaxing reluctant staff back into work.
“There are deals and steals to be made; people have to want to work but nobody wants to; it’s scary.”
The former security contractor; logistics go-to-guy and chef is a deft hand at diversification.
It comes from growing up in the wild west of Papua New Guinea.
“If you don’t make money, you don’t eat and you die,” he said. “Some turn to crime. In hospitality, everything is overcharged by 30 per cent just to cover the thievery.
“Expect to lose one third of your steak knives and seafood.”
Mr Japp moved to PNG at eight years old.
“My father was a marine engineer for the PNG Marine College; we left Australia during the recession we had to have,” he said.
His Papuan formative years are at times at odds with the tolerance he finds are expected in an industry not known for soft touches.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most caring and loving communities in the world but justice is swift and tribal,” he said.
“I struggle sometimes when I sit down with parents because I have had to give someone a written warning.”
He said that community spirit was sorely needed in the Cairns food service industry.
“In the old days you could walk across the road and borrow a bottle of cream without antagonism,” Mr Japp said.
“I don’t know what has changed; everyone has gotten insular.”
His planned restaurant lobby for FNQ is still on the horizon, but coronavirus has thrown a spanner in the works.
In the weeks before the pandemic closed down the economy, Mr Japp had railed against the lack of unity in the
HIS PLANNED RESTAURANT LOBBY FOR FNQ IS STILL ON THE HORIZON, BUT
CORONAVIRUS HAS THROWN A SPANNER IN THE WORKS