Training of the Fifth Generation of Waiters, Bartenders, and Baristas Has Begun

On Monday, February 14, the training of the fifth generation of the Raise the Bar Academy began, in which 16 waiters, bartenders, and baristas will refine their acquired knowledge over nine weeks. Along with theoretical classes held at the Coca-Cola educational center in Zagreb, the Academy also includes field classes and practice in bars and restaurants across Croatia.

– The Raise the Bar Academy is designed as a place where we develop the talents of those who have recognized working in hospitality as a calling and want to make a career out of it. Therefore, we want to provide them with a unique insight into what makes this calling special and give them the opportunity to learn from people who have already built impressive careers – said Kruno Rozić, head of education at the Raise the Bar Academy.

The main lecturer at the Academy Marko Pećnik and coffee expert Tomislav Košutić will be joined by top experts to provide the new generation of participants with a unique insight into the world of mixology and strong alcoholic beverages, wine, coffee, beer, and bar management.

The best Croatian sommelier Ivan Jug will introduce participants to the basics of enology, world and Croatian wines, and will familiarize them with the role of wine in restaurants at the Noel restaurant. They will learn about the production process, types, and serving of beer from the owner of the Dragon Brewery Andrej Čapka, while a visit to a coffee roastery will bring them closer to all the processes that result in the best coffee.

– My colleague participated in the first generation of the Academy, and I think the program is really worth going through, to learn something new and deepen old knowledge. The hospitality and bar scene in Croatia has advanced a lot, and together we can improve it even more – emphasized Iva Kudrić (26) from Split, who has been involved in hospitality since she was 15 and is a participant in the fifth generation of the Academy.

So far, 33 waiters, baristas, and bartenders have completed the Raise the Bar Academy, earning a certificate issued by Coca-Cola HBC Croatia in collaboration with the European Bartender School. All alumni of the Academy are currently employed, some of them in the best restaurants and bars in Croatia, such as the Zagreb restaurant Noel, the Swanky Mint hostel, the San Servolo resort & spa in Istria, and Olive Tree in Split.

Raise the Bar is a strategic platform of Coca-Cola HBC Croatia that has been operating since 2019 with the aim of increasing the quality of education for the workforce in hospitality and tourism. The project includes an academy, free education for waiters, baristas, and bartenders, scholarships for chefs, pastry chefs, and serving staff, and collaboration with regional competence centers, enabling Raise the Bar to align the skills and knowledge of hospitality and tourism workers with the needs of employers.