About your MLF team

We’re on a mission to help you build your best menu, reduce kitchen waste, save you money and achieve sustainable profits, again and again.

OUR HISTORY

“Great chefs, creating delicious food, bringing people together, reminding us that life is good.” – Tim Salisbury

In 2007 our Founder, Tim Salisbury, set out to close the gap between the large number of front-of-house systems (with high-level POS options and beverage buying groups) and the small number of back-of-house kitchen systems to help chefs. 

From humble beginnings in Tim’s spare bedroom in Port Melbourne, My Local Foodie began with just a few venues as clients and a modest $13,000 budget for the first Costimator software.

Now, My Local Foodie are proud to say we have hundreds of venues as our clients and we’ve launched V8 of the Costimator software — the benchmark product helping our chefs to buy better, cost better and continually achieve repeatable menu success.

ouR VALUES

Open

We openly receive and share information so we can all grow and thrive, drama-free.

Hungry

We have an unrelenting passion to help our clients win. Every time.

Humble

We give praise without hesitation, and admit our mistakes as we seek to improve ourselves.

People first

We listen to and champion others. And treat people the way we’d like to be treated.

Our Foodies

Our talented team of Foodies each play a key role when it comes to putting all the My Local Foodie ingredients together. 

Tim Salisbury

Tim lives and breathes hospitality – it’s in his DNA. Through seeing first hand how tough the food game can be, he set out to make hospo much easier. 13 years on, My Local Foodie continues to succeed in making every clients’ business profitable. Tim also cooks a mean roast pork belly with his signature Italian-style slaw.

Tim Salisbury
Founder

As a Dietitian of Italian heritage, Maria is passionate about good nutrition – having grown up with fresh homegrown food prepared by Nonna. Maria has enjoyed a diverse hospitality career in business development & marketing roles. Her focus is to support clients’ success using our systems & drive business growth.

Maria Kucherhan
Chief Executive Officer

Varun knows sales and loves good food. With a history of sealing multi-million dollar deals and boosting brands, he brings hustle and heart to My Local Foodie. A tech fan and gym junkie, Varun finds joy in family time with his son, Aryan. He’s all about growing business and savoring life’s good things.

Varun Khetrapal
GM Sales & Client Success

Cameron brings over 20 years of analyst experience from diverse sectors like hospitality to shipping. A data wizard, he’s honed skills in pricing, forecasting, and optimisation. He’s as adept at crunching numbers as he is at tasting global cuisines and exploring new places. For Cameron, data and travel enrich life.

Cameron Dods
Analyst and Reporting Lead
Chris O'Callaghan

Chris’ hospitality journey began as a young boy sitting on the stairs of his parents’ restaurant. He’s done it all –  from kitchen hand, wait staff, Food & Beverage Manager of an Island Resort, to Operations Manager of a national restaurant group. His favourite foods are oysters, eye fillet and homemade ice cream.

Chris O’Callaghan
Senior Client Success Manager VIC

Nathan’s foodie awakening began later in life with the discovery of el dente vegetables. He’s since cooked in and managed many venues across the UK, Europe & Australia. For him, good food is the essence of life that nourishes the soul. Like a simple Banh Mi, or a classic provincial bowl of seafood Bouillabaisse.

Nathan Reed
Client Success Manager NSW

Food is in David’s blood, having grown up in family food businesses to become a successful Chef. David has cooked for many celebrities including the British Royal Family, and loves firing up the stove or grill to cook for family & friends. His annual batch of Italian homemade salami is a winner!

David Carnovale
Client Success Manager VIC

Growing up on a farm in NZ and working as a Chef for 15 years has given Dan a real passion for the origins of food. He enjoys making homemade pizza at home and cooking over charcoal which has turned into a real hobby after hanging up his Chef’s whites. Dan loves fresh seafood and American BBQ style food.

Dan Crocker
Client Success Manager VIC

Mikayla began her hospitality career in Queensland, then moved to Tasmania. There, she fell in love with local produce. Her culinary focus is simplicity, allowing ingredients to shine. She specialises in crafting delicious cakes and desserts, making meals memorable.

Mikayla Cooper
Client Success Manager TAS

With 20 years in hospitality, Liam moved from the kitchen to procurement at Jackalope Hotel, bringing a deep knowledge for quality sourcing. When not in a professional setting, he delights in creating culinary gems for loved ones, making every meal an event to remember.

Liam Sweeney
Client Success Buyer - Fresh

Originally based in Singapore, Melen moved away from a career in Electronics Manufacturing to food where her true passion lies. She’s worked in cafes and loves to bake and has her certificate 4 in patisserie. Melen likes to experiment in the kitchen at home – Indonesian cuisine is her favourite.

Melen Chenn
Administration Manager
Nissa Ni
Assistant Buyer - Dry, Chilled, Frozen
Tamara Sopelsa
Assistant Buyer - Fresh
Peter Grimbacher

Some of Pete’s best food memories are from share-housing with a chef in Brisbane. Just hanging around the kitchen whilst someone cooks, talking food, tasting and discussing places to eat. When he is not eating, Pete is keeping on top of the My Local Foodie accounts.

Peter Grimbacher
Bookkeeper

See how your venue
stacks up today

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habits/systems, menu costing, recipe/sub-recipe habits,
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