Michael Kugel

ABOUT:

This native of the Black Forest has been self-employed for over 30 years, lives in Kassel, and—after thorough training in hospitality and F&B—ran a highly successful wine wholesale business there. In the process, he became acquainted with over 60 wine-growing regions worldwide. As an expert in the hospitality and retail sectors, this process consultant and communication coach now makes his know-how available as an advisor and trainer.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advisory board member of EUROVINO
• European Cheese Expert (Fromelier)
• Co-founder and shareholder of future-wine.eu (including the Future Wine Award wine competition and the Future Wine Academy)
• Former chairman of the German Knigge Council
• IHK lecturer for the Wine Connoisseur Diploma®
• President of the Professional Association of Independent Wine Consultants (Fachverband unabhängiger Weinreferenten e.V.)
• Licensed trainer and expert on hospitality topics
• Authorized consultant in the ESF program “unternehmensWert: Mensch”, supported by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Union
• Mentor and originator of the first Kassel Wine School
• F&B manager and assistant to hotel management
• State-certified chef, Hotel Management School Heidelberg

AREAS OF FOCUS:

Consulting

Selection and assortments, wine department relaunch, creation of wine catalogs, staff training, customer loyalty, successful corporate philosophy

Education

“Hospitality” as a corporate guiding principle and attitude toward customer relations; FuW Wine Connoisseur Diploma” at all levels for the hospitality and retail sectors

“Sales & Consulting” for retail and hospitality.

“Wine Sensory Analysis”, “Which Wine for What Occasion”, and “Service Crash Courses” for point-of-sale staff and career changers or newcomers in hospitality and catering, “Good Customer and Guest Relations”, “Appreciative Communication”, “Wine & Etiquette”

Seminar/crash course for aspiring hosts in everyday business

“Etiquette Training and Updates”, “Business Dinner” for executives

Events

• Wine communication: presentations, moderation, and tasting guidance
• Gourmet wine events for professional audiences
• Corporate events & expert presentations
• Wine industry study trips

REFERENCES:

• EDEKA Hessenring
• EDEKA Rhine-Ruhr
• EDEKA Northern Bavaria-Saxony-Thuringia
• SB Union C&C Wholesale Market
• REWE Group
• EDEKA Minden-Hannover
• Bartels-Langness (famila Nord)
• J. Bünting Beteiligungs AG
• ECC, European Cheese Center, Hanover
• Bauhaus Academy Schloss Ettersburg
• Hotel Schindelbruch
• Hotel Gude Kassel