feature: improving energy efficiency

With the cost of living is tightening purse strings the nation-wide, it’s time to shop smarter. Appliances that sing with energy and time efficiency, though perhaps with a costlier initial outlay, will save in the long run. So, look no further for a rundown of a few garden centre café kitchen essentials.

An organised, clean workstation is essential for any good chef. This, however, is a team effort, and with the shortage of KPs it’s not as easy as it once was to keep the place ship shape. Winterhalter UK’s marketing development manager Paul Crowley has noticed that with this shortage has come a huge increase in demand for utensil washers. 

Fortunately, the timing of this couldn’t be more apt, with Winterhalter having just launched its PT Utensil. Featuring technology that helps to reduce energy and water consumption while enhancing reliability and usability, Paul says it ensures that both utensils and plates are cleaned to the highest standards time after time. He adds: “Underpinning the design of the PT Utensil is Winterhalter’s hygiene concept. Every component has been tweaked to ensure that there are no nooks and crannies where dirt can accumulate.”

There’s enough to do in a kitchen without wasting time on appliances that are hard to clean. Riccardo May, HoReCa marketing manager at Tork, believes: “The future success of hospitality businesses replies upon their ability to harness and implement new technology, especially when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of customers.”

Taylor UK, too, is on board with keeping cleanup as easy as possible, which is why its Teddy mixer from Varimixer features rounded corners and no external screws or openings which makes it easy to clean. What’s more, all its accessories are made from hard wearing dishwasher safe stainless steel.

Teddy mixer from Varimixer

With an eye on cleaning, Tork is on hand to ensure “staff are never at risk of under- or over-cleaning again,” says Riccardo. Tork Vision Cleaning is leading the way in data-driven cleaning. It provides instant access to real-time data, to help members of staff work smarter, boost hygiene and quality, all whilst reducing waste consumption. 

Small but mighty
Just because a kitchen is small it can still turn out some mightily delicious plates and an impressive number of covers. But there’s no disputing that with space constraints in the mix, catering teams need to think smart if they want to maintain a high output of quality dishes. 

If space is a premium – which let’s face it, it is in most kitchens – it might be hard to justify a sizeable professional mixer. In tight spaces, however, the five-litre Teddy countertop mixer from Varimixer could be the answer. David Rees, group marketing manager at HTG Trading says: “The high-quality motor runs quietly, and unlike most other small mixers is capable of mixing heavy ingredients at slow speeds. The mirrored control function makes it easy to install in confined spaces, as it can be sited against a wall and still be used.”

Happily, even vacuum processing – for sous vide, food preservation, and packaging of sauces – is possible for small kitchens, with the Evox range from Hubbard Systems. David says: “All models in the Evox range are countertop units, with a compact footprint that enables them to be installed in smaller locations. An eye-catching design features a stainless-steel exterior with a curved, tempered glass cover. Each model includes Orved’s specially designed vacuum chamber, with an integrated sealing bar.

Scott Kedwards, development chef for Panasonic says for those operations with limited kitchen space, investing in a quality oven such as Panasonic’s NE-1878 comes with the advantages of being 12.5kg lighter than its predecessor, making it easier to move around for cleaning. The 1878 has brought Inverter technology to the fore, enabling gentler, more even cooking, on low power – which also makes it cheaper to run.

Sustainability
With rising energy prices and threats of power blackouts in the New Year, sustainability has never been so important. Manufacturers are aware of the constraints being faced by garden centre caterers and there are some fantastically efficient solutions available.

Winterhalter PT

Sharing more details on Winterhalter’s new line, Paul says that as with other models in the PT range, the Utensil includes the EnergyLight heat recovery system as standard. This recycles heat from the wash water to help heat incoming cold water, reducing energy consumption by up to 10%. Additional energy savings can be made with the optional EnergyPlus air heat recovery system, which recycles steam to heat the water. He adds: “As well as improving working conditions by stopping steam being released when the unit is open, it can reduce energy costs by up to 15% per wash cycle.”

Also on the sustainability train is Tork, with PaperCircle: its recycling service for paper hand towels. This innovative product transforms used paper hand towels into new tissue products – turning waste into a resource. Riccardo says: “Tork’s PaperCircle helps venues meet their sustainability targets by reducing waste by up to 20% and cutting carbon emissions for paper hand towels by at least 40%.”

Another area to be on the lookout for sustainability is food wrap. According to Adrian Brown, managing director, Cofresco Foodservice, in any kitchen, no piece of catering equipment is more widely used than cling film and aluminium foil, which is why garden centre cafes should consider using a professional kit when it comes to dispensing. He adds: “Cardboard cutter boxes are not only wasteful – with more cling film ending up in the bin than protecting food – but they also impact on efficiency, as well as food safety. There’s also the risk of injuries from the box’s exposed blades, as well as unnecessary wastage due to usage difficulties and tangling which can lead to untidy workstations.” The new generation 4500 Wrapmaster is not only 21% smaller and 18% lighter than its predecessor, but is now even easier to unlock, open and reload Wrapmaster refill rolls. 

Stay connected
“Accuracy and reliability are arguably two of the most essential qualities of kitchen equipment, particularly when in the context of hygiene and safety,” says Keith Hopewell, director of operations UK and Europe at Monika. He adds: “With an ever-evolving industry comes constant innovation. In the future this is likely to feature more automated systems, to reduce the risk of human error and miscommunications. Increasingly easier accessibility will also likely play a role.” 

Keith shares that Monika’s temperature monitoring equipment simulates the temperature of food, as opposed to just recording the temperature of the air within the refrigeration or freezer units – giving operators far more accurate results. 

Everyone’s experienced the false economy of buying a cheaper product, only to have it break or not last as long. Despite – or perhaps because of – the current financial climate, it’s important to make smart choices. Opting for equipment that will save time and energy in the kitchen over its lifetime will pay for itself in the long run. 

Feeling toasty!
Toasted sandwiches are big business for garden centre cafés. Looking to upgrade your panini presser? Look no further, for FEM has just launched its new range of Sirman Q sandwich toasters, which will not only toast the stuffing out of your sandwich, but is also great for heating pizzas, ready-cooked foods, grilling burgers, and a multitude of other foods.

Mark Hogan, commercial director at Foodservice Equipment Marketing, says: “These space-saving countertop units are ideal for garden centre establishments for quick and convenient food items like the toasted sandwich. However, there’s no good toasted sandwich without a good toaster – the Sirman Q sandwich toasters are the perfect choice, especially for those tight on space.”

Be cool
Ticking the boxes of easy cleaning, small kitchen suitability, and energy efficiency in one neat package comes the latest release from Williams. Its newly launched compact drawer cabinet is designed to offer a flexible chilled or frozen storage solution for frying and grilling stations. 

Sales and marketing director Malcolm Harling at Williams Refrigeration says: “With a foodsafe stainless steel exterior, aluminium interior and features like an easy grab handle that minimises dirt traps, the Fry Station is designed to be easy to clean. A front venting ventilation system makes it easy to maintain and allows it to be installed in tight spaces, while an advanced airflow design ensures optimum performance and energy efficiency.” 

Added to this, Fry Station Drawers use eco-friendly, natural hydrocarbon refrigerant. This has a GWP of just three, an ODP of zero, and excellent thermodynamic properties, resulting in high energy efficiency. The Fry Station Drawer also features the latest version of Williams’ intelligent CoolSmart controller, to help minimise energy consumption. 

The Fry Station Drawer is available in one and two drawer versions, and thanks to its variable temperature function can safely store a variety of frozen or refrigerated foods, right where they’re needed at the point of cooking. 

SUPPLIER CONTACTS
fem.co.uk
taylor-company.co.uk
scotsman-ice.co.uk   
williams-refrigeration.co.uk
winterhalter.co.uk
monika.com
wrapmaster.global
panasonic.co.uk/pro-cooking