Certificate in Food And Beverage Service & Sales
The Certificate in Food and Beverage Service & Sales provides foundational skills in food and beverage service operations, customer service, and sales in hospitality establishments. Students learn food service techniques, beverage service, restaurant operations, customer relations, and basic food safety. The programme is designed for individuals seeking entry-level positions in restaurants, hotels, bars, and catering companies.
Students develop competencies in table service, order taking, food and beverage pairing, point-of-sale systems, customer service, basic food hygiene, and sales techniques for food and beverage products. The curriculum covers food and beverage service fundamentals, restaurant service operations, bar service, banqueting and events service, and the hospitality industry in Kenya. Practical skills in serving food and beverages to standards are emphasised through laboratory and restaurant settings.
Kenya's hospitality industry is a significant contributor to GDP and employment, with tourism being a leading foreign exchange earner. The growth of hotels, restaurants, and food service establishments across the country, driven by domestic tourism, international visitors, and the expanding middle class, creates sustained demand for trained food and beverage service personnel. The rise of international hotel chains and standards has elevated the need for professionally trained service staff.
The programme combines classroom lectures with practical restaurant and laboratory sessions. Students practise table setting, food service, beverage service, and customer interaction in simulated restaurant environments. Teaching methods include practical demonstrations, role-play exercises, restaurant service simulations, and industry visits to hotels and restaurants.
Graduates find employment as waiters, waitresses, bar attendants, restaurant service staff, or catering assistants in hotels, restaurants, bars, and event catering companies. The certificate also provides a pathway to diploma programmes in food and beverage management or hospitality management. Some graduates progress to supervisory roles with experience and additional training.
This programme is ideal for KCSE graduates with an interest in the hospitality industry, as well as individuals already working in food service who seek formal qualification. The accessible entry requirements make it suitable for those exploring hospitality as a career before committing to diploma or degree-level studies.
- Duration
- 6 months
- Public, up to
- Ksh 82,700
- Private, up to
- Ksh 50,000
- Job market
- High
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time, Virtual and Distance Learning
- Attachment
- 3 months
- Average class
- 30 students
- Award
- Certificate
What you study
10 subjects- Food and Beverage Service Fundamentals
- Restaurant Service Operations
- Beverage Service and Bar Operations
- Customer Service and Communication
- Food Safety and Hygiene
- Point-of-Sale Systems
- Banqueting and Events Service
- Sales Techniques for Food and Beverage
- Menu Knowledge and Food Pairing
- Hospitality Industry Studies
Modules
8 in the programmeFood and Beverage Service Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to food and beverage service covering service types, table setting, order taking, service sequence, and the fundamentals of professional food and beverage service.
Restaurant Service Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Restaurant operations covering opening and closing procedures, station management, order processing, billing, and coordinating between front-of-house and kitchen.
Beverage Service and Bar Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Beverage service fundamentals covering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, bar operations, cocktail basics, coffee and tea service, and responsible beverage service.
Customer Service and Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Customer service skills for hospitality covering communication techniques, handling complaints, customer relationship management, and creating positive dining experiences.
Food Safety and Hygiene
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Food safety and hygiene principles covering personal hygiene, food handling standards, contamination prevention, and compliance with Kenyan food safety regulations.
Point-of-Sale Systems and Sales Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Using point-of-sale systems in restaurants, combined with sales techniques for food and beverage products including upselling, suggestive selling, and promoting menu items.
Banqueting and Events Service
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Banqueting and events food service covering function setup, buffet service, plated event service, beverage service for events, and managing large-scale food service operations.
Menu Knowledge and Industry Practicum
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Menu knowledge covering food descriptions, ingredients, dietary considerations, and food and beverage pairing, combined with a practical service practicum in a restaurant or hotel setting.
Specialisations
Restaurant Service
Focus on table service, restaurant operations, and customer service in dining establishments.
Bar and Beverage Service
Focus on beverage service, bar operations, and cocktail preparation in bars and hotel lounges.
Events and Banqueting Service
Focus on food and beverage service for events, conferences, weddings, and large-scale functions.
A day as a student
A typical day combines morning lectures on food and beverage theory or customer service with afternoon practical sessions in the training restaurant. Students practise table setting, food service, beverage service, order taking, and customer interaction. Role-play exercises simulate real restaurant scenarios, and students may visit hotels for industry exposure.
The trade offs
In its favour
- High demand for food and beverage service staff in Kenya's growing hospitality industry.
- Short programme duration enables quick entry into the workforce.
- Provides a pathway to diploma programmes in hospitality and food and beverage management.
Against it
- Entry-level positions may offer modest compensation, though tips can supplement income.
- Work hours often include evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
- Career progression to management roles requires diploma or degree-level qualifications plus experience.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 91 hospitality & tourism coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
KUC 82.7K/yr (ghanadmission). TVET 56K-67K/yr. Gretsa 50K (eafinder.com)
HELB loans and NGCDF bursaries are available for eligible Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities.
Funding options
HELB Loan
NGCDF Bursary
Scholarships
2 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities
NGCDF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective constituencies pursuing certificate-level studies
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- D
- Alternative entry
- Equivalent qualifications recognised by Gretsa University Senate.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Regular CATs evaluating understanding of food and beverage theory, customer service, and food safety.
Practical Service Assessment
Practical assessment40% of the mark
Practical assessment of table service, beverage service, customer interaction, and restaurant operations in training restaurant settings.
End of Semester Examinations
Written examination30% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester covering all modules taken.
Accreditation
Gretsa University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered under the School of Hospitality.
Accredited by
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Gretsa University is chartered by CUE. The programme is offered under the School of Hospitality.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesWaiter/Waitress
High demandKsh 15,000 to Ksh 45,000
Serves food and beverages to guests in restaurants, hotels, and catering establishments, providing professional table service and customer care.
Bar Attendant
High demandKsh 14,000 to Ksh 40,000
Serves beverages in bars, hotels, and restaurants, preparing drinks, managing bar inventory, and providing customer service.
Restaurant Service Staff
High demandKsh 15,000 to Ksh 42,000
Works in restaurant service operations including greeting guests, taking orders, serving food, processing payments, and maintaining dining area standards.
Catering Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 13,000 to Ksh 38,000
Assists in catering operations for events, conferences, and functions, supporting food service setup, service delivery, and cleanup.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates find employment as waiters, bar attendants, and restaurant service staff in hotels, restaurants, and catering companies, with opportunities for progression to diploma programmes in hospitality management.
Tools you will learn
Microsoft Office (POS and Reports)
Software
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Food and beverage service is just waitering.
The field encompasses restaurant operations, beverage service, customer relationship management, sales, events service, and food safety management.
There are no career advancement opportunities in food service.
Food and beverage service offers progression to supervisory, management, and even hospitality entrepreneurship roles with experience and further training.
Food and beverage service is only for people who cannot get other jobs.
Professional food and beverage service requires specific skills, training, and personal qualities that are valued in the hospitality industry globally.
The hospitality industry in Kenya is not growing.
Kenya's hospitality industry continues to grow with domestic tourism, international visitors, and expansion of hotel and restaurant chains creating sustained demand for trained personnel.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Certificate in Food And Beverage Service & Sales are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.