The canteen and the first Christmas party

Opening of the canteen

In January 2026, we launched a canteen at NOBO for our employees and contractors. At first glance, this may seem like a minor detail, but in reality it has a greater impact on the day-to-day running of the company than might appear.

As I mentioned in previous posts, we didn’t want to decide on a supplier from behind a desk. We approached three companies, and each of them carried out a one-day trial run at our premises. Normal meal service in a real-world setting, without presentations or promises. People tried the food and gave their feedback.

The decision was a simple one – the staff chose the provider themselves. The company that now runs the canteen won them over with its food, portion sizes and overall approach. So far, we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback.

Our aim was clear from the start: one free hot meal, including soup, and above all a portion that would fill someone who works with their hands all day. Not a light „gym lunch“, but a proper, hearty meal.

We’ve also managed to arrange for one Chinese meal a day. Our colleagues from China really appreciate this, and it just goes to show that some things work universally across cultures.

These days, the canteen isn’t just about lunch. Breakfast, snacks and desserts are now on the menu too. The ladies at the serving counter take their work seriously; they have their own rhythm, coordinated outfits every day, and you can tell they care. And that shows in the end result.

Christmas party

Just before Christmas, all 140 local staff members and around 50 colleagues from China came together in one place. We hired a community hall in nearby Včelná and organised our first-ever Christmas party. Food, drinks, a band, a DJ, a photo booth, a NOBO quiz with prizes from our partners, and the announcement of the Employees of the Year.

I also hosted the party. And these are exactly the moments when I’m in my element. Seeing the whole team together, feeling the energy in the room, interacting with people, improvising, and bringing together different groups who otherwise mainly only meet at work.

It was interesting to watch our colleagues from China gradually get involved. At the start of the evening, they tended to sit at the tables, observing what was going on around them. Then came some good food, a beer or two, and suddenly they were standing in the middle of the dance floor, dancing alongside their local colleagues. No interpreters, no programme, completely naturally.

In short, we’re now a real company with real people, relationships and shared experiences.

These things are difficult to fit into a schedule and can’t be managed through spreadsheets. But in the long run, they have a huge impact on how a company operates. Sometimes a single social event can achieve more than a thousand work workshops.

David Havelec

HR Manager in Nobo Automotive Czech Republic

13 January 2026