Nutmeg Street Kitchen

The Challenge

For a busy restaurant group, reliable, hygienic and high-quality workwear is essential. Nutmeg had previously been working with another supplier, but the service and quality were falling short of expectations.

Deliveries were arriving late, while the garments themselves were not meeting the standards expected by the group. The workwear could arrive looking worn, with visible stains and lingering odours — a particular concern in kitchens where strong aromas and food stains are part of everyday life.

As Raja Munuswamy, Director of Nutmeg Group, explains:

“A restaurant has to be very simple, not complicated. Health and hygiene are fundamentals in restaurants. We had our uniforms delivered, and the quality was not good. The garment actually looked older. Stains and odours could still be seen and smelt. It wasn’t good.”

The nature of Indian cuisine made finding the right workwear partner even more important. With demanding kitchen environments, frequent food stains and strong aromas, Nutmeg needed a service that could provide fresh, professionally laundered garments on a regular basis.

“We had to investigate an alternative supplier — and that’s when we discovered CLEAN.”

The Solution

After contacting CLEAN to explore an alternative solution, Raja was able to discuss Nutmeg’s requirements directly with the team.

CLEAN arranged a site visit to understand the operation, the demands placed on the kitchen teams and the type of garments that would work best. Rather than simply replicating the existing uniform provision, CLEAN recommended alternative garments designed to offer a better fit for Nutmeg’s working environment.

The solution included Tibard Coolmax short-sleeve chef jackets, bib aprons and branded floor protection mats.

For the kitchen team, garment performance was particularly important. Executive Head Chef, Shishir Sinha, understands first-hand how demanding a professional kitchen can be.

“The kitchen is really a very hard place to work. As a chef, you have to be hygienic, you have to be clean so that you can produce clean food. The quality of linen has to be superior so that when you wear it, it has to be comfortable.”

The Coolmax chef jacket provided the comfort and ventilation required in a hot, busy kitchen. With a mesh back, the garment helps keep chefs cooler while they work.

“What I’m wearing right now, this is amazing. It has got mesh back which is totally ventilated, so it keeps me cool.”

CLEAN also supplied branded entrance floor mats across the Nutmeg estate, helping extend the group’s brand identity beyond the kitchen and into the customer experience.

“When you step inside any of our restaurants, we welcome you on a floor mat.”

Onboarding

From the initial enquiry through to implementation, Nutmeg found the transition to CLEAN straightforward and hassle-free.

CLEAN worked with the group to ensure garments were properly fitted and that collections and deliveries were scheduled to align with the restaurants’ operational requirements.

For a growing restaurant group, this flexibility was key. The aim was to create a workwear service that supported the kitchens without adding another layer of administration for restaurant staff.

Raja describes the experience as friendly, professional and seamless, exactly the kind of service required when introducing a new supplier.

With the service established, CLEAN became an integrated part of Nutmeg’s day-to-day operations, providing regular deliveries and collections across the group’s sites.

The Result

Today, CLEAN supplies all five Nutmeg Group sites with freshly laundered chef jackets, aprons and trousers, alongside branded floor protection mats.

The result is a workwear service that simply works in the background. Deliveries are made on time, collections run smoothly and fresh garments are available when the kitchen teams need them.

For Raja, that reliability has a direct impact on the restaurants and their teams:

“We work with CLEAN, and it’s been phenomenal. The service has been great. We get clean clothes, on time, which keeps our chefs happy.”

The regular supply of fresh workwear also helps Nutmeg maintain the high standards of cleanliness and presentation that are fundamental to its restaurants.

“Our decision to change, to move to CLEAN was very simple. Indian cuisine is one of the toughest cuisines to cook. It stains everywhere and the smell carries. So every week or every other day, fresh workwear delivery is essential.”

The service extends to the customer-facing areas of the restaurants too, with branded entrance mats helping create a consistent Nutmeg experience from the moment guests arrive.

Most importantly, CLEAN’s reliable collections and deliveries mean Nutmeg’s restaurant teams can focus on what they do best: creating exceptional food and delivering genuine hospitality.

“The pickups are good, delivery is on time and our operations become very smooth.”

As Nutmeg continues to grow, the group sees CLEAN as a partner that can grow alongside the business.

“The Nutmeg Group currently consists of five sites. We want to continue to grow the business with CLEAN.”