In This Section:
Enodis And Halton Announce Alliance And Vent Master Sale
Middleby Acquires Nu-Vu
Vollrath Sails Into Corsair Acquisition
FoodserveX Launches Different Kind Of Web Site
New Digs For Northern Parts
Baring Moves, Announces Job Changes
Lincoln’s Whiteley Passes
Winston Industries’ DeWeese Passes
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Hatco Corp. | Regulatory ReportSponsor: APW Wyott Innovations
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Enodis And Halton Announce Alliance And Vent Master Sale
It’s strategic alliance time down in Florida, where Enodis Corp. has agreed to sell Vent Master to The Halton Group. The $6 million deal, which includes both the Vent Master and Air Tech Brands, will become effective on March 4.
Vent Master is a high-end commercial kitchen ventilation and air purification business, with operations in North America and the U.K. Vent Master generated $22.6 million in revenues in 2004.
Under the agreement, Garland Commercial Ranges, an Enodis subsidiary, will continue to represent Vent Master as its sales arm in Canada, and Enodis U.S. sales representatives will also continue selling Vent Master products.
The alliance of Enodis and The Halton Group will also include supply and development agreements and commercial cooperation.
Enodis, headquartered in New Port Richey, Fla., operates 29 factories in eight countries. Its premium foodservice equipment brands include Cleveland Range, Convotherm, Delfield, Frymaster, Garland, Jackson, Lincoln, Merrychef, Scotsman and U.S. Range.
The Halton Group, headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, is a global supplier of indoor climate products and systems for commercial and public buildings, hotels, foodservice facilities and marine. Halton Group and its subsidiaries operate in 13 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.
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Middleby Acquires Nu-Vu
The Middleby Corp. has grown again with the recent purchase of the Nu-Vu Food Service Systems division from Win-Holt Equipment Corp. The deal is valued at $12 million.
Nu-Vu, of Menominee, Mich., produces ovens under the Nu-Vu brand and holding cabinets under the Wilder brand. Nu-Vu generates about $10 million in annual sales, according to the Middleby announcement. Nu-Vu’s customers include Subway and other fast-casual restaurants.
"By leveraging Middleby’s global distribution channels and current relationships with restaurant chain customers, we will be able to introduce Nu-Vu and Wilder products to a broader audience," said Middleby President Selim Bassoul.
Middleby, headquartered in Elgin, Ill., specializes in cooking and food prep equipment for commercial and institutional kitchens. Its brands include Blodgett, MagiKitch'n, Pitco Frialator, Southbend and Toastmaster.
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Vollrath Sails Into Corsair Acquisition
The Vollrath Co. has rolled into the carts-and-kiosk market with the recent acquisition of controlling interest in Corsair Display Systems, Canandaigua, N.Y.
Corsair will operate as a stand-alone subsidiary of Vollrath, with David Mansfield as president.
With Corsair on board, Vollrath will be able to offer a full range of cart and kiosks to the foodservice and hospitality industry.
Vollrath, of Sheboygan, Wis., manufactures smallwares and light equipment.
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FoodserveX Launches Different Kind Of Web Site
Talk about a win-win-win situation. FoodserveX.com has created a unique Web site that will benefit manufacturers, reps, dealers and end-users by providing a one-stop source for equipment and supplies.
The site, www.FoodserveX.com, will help operators compare foodservice equipment and supplies from various makers; obtain quotes from up to three local dealers within 24 hours; and even complete the purchase online with the dealer you select.
Since it’s the manufacturers themselves who will be maintaining product information, you’ll find product listings with the most up-to-date specs, features and list prices. You’ll also find a broader variety of goods than on individual dealer Web sites.
The differences between this new site and others continue: Dealers and manufacturers pay a nominal annual fee to participate in order to maintain and promote the site to operators. On the flip side, the Web site makes no money from any of the transactions, so the site has no stake in which E&S you choose or whether you complete the transaction online or some other way.
FoodserveX.com was launched in November 2004 by Donna Sikes, of Donna Sikes Marketing, a Nashville, Tenn.-based consulting firm for the foodservice industry.
At this point, the site is open to manufacturers and dealers so they can add product information to the site. The goal is to have 100 manufacturer brands and 200 dealer locations logged before promoting it to operators—hopefully by the end of the first quarter, Sikes said.
New Digs For Northern Parts
Parts? You want parts? Northern Parts & Service has ’em, especially now that the Plattsburgh, N.Y., kitchen parts distributor has opened a new 34,000 sq. ft. warehouse and shipping facility next to its headquarters. The changes also include a newly renovated 24,000 sq. ft. Customer Call Center and training center.
"This move allows us to add parts distribution for other major product lines in the future and provides the one-stop, immediate service most customers demand," says Business Development V.P. Derek Knapp. "And, Northern’s ‘We-Got-It!’ online inventory allows customers to view the entire warehouse stock in real time 24/7."
The company, a member of the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association, serves more than 6,000 clients nationwide.
Baring Moves, Announces Job Changes
Baring Industries, a division of Electrolux Professional, has moved into its new headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
The move comes with some job-shifts: Mike Fitzgibbon moves up to the executive v.p. spot, overseeing company operations. Mike Mackey, based in Baring’s Nashville, Tenn., office, has accepted the position of regional v.p. in charge of both the Nashville and Lombard, Ill., offices. And Manny Alvarez has been promoted to director of business development, heading up the sales for all offices.
Baring opened its Marlton, N.J., office early in 2004 and just recently opened the Lombard office managed by Mike Heim.
Lincoln’s Whiteley Passes
Stephen J. Whiteley, president of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lincoln Foodservice Group/Enodis, died Jan. 23 in that city following a brief illness.
"Our entire Enodis family is saddened by the loss," said Enodis CEO David McCulloch. "Steve exhibited an unmatched passion for all aspects of our business. His leadership of our Lean Manufacturing efforts and the Enodis Manufacturing Excellence Council are among the many contributions for which we will be forever grateful."
A native of Poole, England, Whiteley immigrated to California in 1982. He joined Enodis in ’99 as operations v.p. at Lincoln, and was promoted to president in 2000. Prior to joining Enodis, Whiteley served as manufacturing v.p. in the Engineered Systems Group at York Int'l. Corp.
Whiteley is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, Stewart.
Winston Industries’ DeWeese Passes
Dewey DeWeese, senior v.p. of national accounts at Winston Industries, passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Jan. 28. He was 68.
DeWeese’s career in the foodservice industry spanned five decades. He joined Winston Industries in Louisville, Ky., in 1996. Prior to that, he operated his own distributorship for many years. He was a native of Morgantown, Ky., and had served with the National Guard during the Korean conflict.
DeWeese is survived by his wife, Patricia; two sons; two stepdaughters; and seven grandchildren.
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