Curtis Stone Events to Shape the Culinary Experience at Hawthorn’s Kennedy Community Centre

Perfectly Paired Group is proud to share the announcement of Curtis Stone Events as the official catering partner for Hawthorn Football Club at the newly opened Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley Village.

This milestone marks an important chapter for the Club as it establishes a new home designed to serve elite performance, member engagement and community connection in equal measure.

Perfectly Paired were honoured to collaborate with Hawthorn Football Club to manage the catering services request for tender process. From the outset, the brief was clear. The Club was seeking a catering partner that aligned strongly with its values and vision, one capable of delivering excellence across a complex, multi-faceted environment while placing community at the heart of the precinct.

The Kennedy Community Centre brings together a diverse mix of food and beverage requirements under one roof. These include daily high-performance player catering for AFL and AFLW programs, a café and retail offer serving staff, members and visitors, and a premium new event space designed to host club, community and partner events alike. The successful partner needed to demonstrate depth, credibility and a genuine understanding of both elite sport and public-facing hospitality.

Led by Michelin-starred Australian chef Curtis Stone, Curtis Stone Events is recognised for turning fresh, quality ingredients into delicious, thoughtful food experiences. Their appointment is supported by their corporate arm, Cornerstone Corporate Catering, bringing additional scale and expertise across workplace and event catering.

The partnership will see Curtis Stone Events embedded into the daily rhythm of the Kennedy Community Centre, supporting both elite performance environments and the broader visitor experience. Their approach brings consistency, quality and intent across everything from athlete nutrition to the way members, staff and community connect with the venue through food.

Hawthorn CEO Ash Klein said:

“Hawthorn is delighted to welcome Curtis Stone Events to the brown and gold family as our official catering provider at our new home, the Kennedy Community Centre.

Led by Michelin-starred chef Curtis Stone, everyone who visits our new home will have access to the highest quality food and coffee for 2026 and beyond.

With support from their corporate catering arm, Cornerstone Corporate Catering, we look forward to having everyone enjoying first-class food at our new first-class venue for many years to come.”

Curtis Stone Events Managing Director Chris Sheldon said:

“Curtis Stone Events is absolutely thrilled to partner with Hawthorn Football Club to bring an exceptional café experience to life.

Working closely with the club’s performance and nutrition teams, we’re proud to create restaurant-quality and nourishing meals that help fuel the incredible athletes who take the field.

We’re equally excited to open the doors of the brand-new pavilion to the wider community - a vibrant space where great food, connection, and shared experiences come together.”

For Perfectly Paired, this project exemplifies what we do best. We work alongside venues to define the right commercial framework, articulate clear expectations and connect them with catering partners who are genuinely aligned in purpose, capability and ambition. The result is not just a contract award, but a partnership positioned to deliver long-term value for the venue, its stakeholders and its community.

We congratulate Hawthorn Football Club and Curtis Stone Events on this exciting partnership and look forward to seeing the Kennedy Community Centre come to life as a destination for players, members, partners and the wider community.

If your venue or organisation is approaching a catering services tender or reviewing an existing partnership, Perfectly Paired brings clarity, structure and deep industry insight to the process. We work exclusively for venues to secure catering partners that are commercially robust, operationally credible and genuinely aligned with your vision. Get in touch to explore how we can support your next chapter.