FER Crowns Eleven Winners In Smallwares And Tabletop Contest

Eleven tabletop, servingware and smallwares products have been honored with awards in Foodservice Equipment Reports’s 13th annual Smallwares & Tabletop Awards. Six judges—three operators and three dealer specialists—made the final selections during a judging session held Aug. 6 at Edward Don’s headquarters in Woodridge, Ill.

More than 60 tabletop and smallwares manufacturers submitted entries for the program, which recognizes excellence in product design. Criteria include items that demonstrate innovation in their category, promote labor saving and ergonomics, enhance food quality, safety and presentation and exhibit overall excellence in design. Products had to be introduced after the 2013 National Restaurant Association Show.

A total of 35 products was entered by 25 companies in the smallwares category; there were 69 entries from 37 companies in the tabletop and servingware categories. The award winners were selected from 22 finalists in the smallwares category, chosen by the editors of FER; 34 finalists made the cut in the tabletop and servingware categories. The six judges examined and rated the finalist’s products onsite during the judging.

The five winners in the smallwares category are:

• Carlisle: Cool Check
• Comark: HT100-Touch Recorder
• Edlund: Titan Series Max Cut
• Eneron: 14" nonstick pan
• Server: SweetStation
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The six winners in the tabletop and servingware category are:

• American Metalcraft: Translucence Collection
• Carlisle: Designer w/Coldmaster Technology
• Elite Global: Durango Dinnerware
• HoldaPlate: HoldaPlate
• Snap Drape: Urban Naturals Collection Table Cap
• Spiegelau: IPA Beer Glassware

“We were delighted with the response to our call for entries and absolutely thrilled by the caliber of judges we hosted once again this year,” said FER Editor-in-Chief Beth Lorenzini. “Their meticulous attention to detail during the judging and their thoughtful discussion afterwards was eye-opening. We learned a lot.”

The six judges were: Mike Cooke, sales representative-Boelter Companies, Milwaukee; Marc Jacobs, exec. v.p./partner-Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago; Jeff Johnston, account manager-The Wasserstrom Co., Columbus, Ohio; Shannon Kroner, category manager-Edward Don; Matt McMillin, dir.-culinary and beverage operations, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Countryside, Ill.; and Dave Reeves, dir.-food and nutrition services, Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst, Ill.