We are delighted to welcome Carl Collins to Combat2Coffee as our new Catering and Operational Standards Manager.
Carl brings over 30 years of catering and operational leadership experience and will play a pivotal role in shaping how we deliver food and coffee across the organisation.
Carl previously spent 21 years at Ipswich Town Football Club, working his way up from Sous Chef to Executive Head Chef. During his time at the club, he built a wealth of knowledge in catering operations, food standards, and team leadership, expertise that will be invaluable as Combat2Coffee continues to expand.
Carl is also no stranger to military life. He joined the British Army in 1992 as a chef, serving 12 years with operational tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and Ireland, alongside training deployments in Canada, Norway, and Belize, to name just a few.
Carl shared:
As a veteran, I completely understand what Combat2Coffee stands for. The organisation’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community genuinely resonates with me, and I’m proud to be part of something that makes such a real difference.
In his role with Combat2Coffee, Carl will lead our catering and operational excellence, overseeing procurement and all catering facilities, from our café at Sizewell C to our cafés in custodial environments and everything in between. He will be responsible for ensuring our food and beverage offer is consistently high-quality, compliant, and delivered to the highest professional standards, no matter the setting.
Carl will also lead on health and safety, operational compliance, and roastery operations, safeguarding both quality and best practice across the organisation.
Carl said:
I am looking forward to working closely with teams on the ground to help embed strong systems and support continuous improvement.
I want to ensure our coffee and food offer reflects the standards our partners and community expect.
With a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of complex catering environments, Carl will be instrumental in strengthening our operational foundations and supporting our continued growth.
Carl was first introduced to Combat2Coffee through its work with Ipswich Town Football Club, where he built a strong relationship with our founder, Nigel.
Carl shared:
Over the years, I have built a great relationship with Nigel. From when I first met him, I could see Nigel’s drive and determination to move Combat2Coffee forward.
In June 2025, when Combat2Coffee hosted their first Bigger Breakfast event, Nigel reached out to ask for help with the catering to provide breakfast for 500 people.
That event showed me the scale of Combat2Coffee’s growth and the incredible impact the organisation has on the community.
Outside of work, Carl enjoys spending quality time with his family and can often be found enjoying a round of golf
