Recipe for success: Pholklore and genU strengthen relationship

GEELONG-BASED restaurant Pholklore has expanded its partnership with disability support provider genU with the aim of providing more supported employment opportunities for people living with disability.

The Vietnamese restaurant has leased a commercial kitchen at genU’s North Geelong premises in Douro Street to help create new employment pathways and development and skill-building opportunities for people with a disability.

Pholklore owner Domenic Friend, who has restaurants in Torquay and Geelong and is about to open another in Lorne, said the initiative aimed to bridge the gap between commercial businesses and the disability sector, fostering both inclusivity and support.

“We truly believe this partnership through the lease of a commercial kitchen and the opportunity to employ workers with disability is our next phase together,” he said. “Pholklore looks forward to expanding its social impact by creating a more inclusive workspace and continuing to delight its customers with exceptional dining experiences.”

Mr Friend has been collaborating with genU since Pholklore first launched in 2017 and has supported the employment of people living with disability by outsourcing some of the restaurant’s kitchen preparation to genU’s commercial food preparation service.

genU director of employment services Jamie-Lee Demmer said the partnership was a win-win for both parties.

“We have been fortunate to secure this partnership which will expand on our existing relationship and provide Pholklore with the infrastructure they need to grow,” she said.

“We are pleased this will also create potential opportunities for supported employees to build career pathways to open employment.”

genU chief executive officer Clare Amies said the partnership was a logical and philosophical fit.

“Pholklore has supported genU for many years, and their directors all have experience within the disability sector, and they have expressed their commitment to this being a partnership that can support opportunities for people with disability,” she said.

“We are committed to providing the best environments possible for our supported employees to build their skills, grow careers and move into mainstream employment if that is their goal.

“We will be proactive in transforming and making the changes necessary to ensure our supported employees and staff have the best options possible now and into the future.”