Best in Class Reports

For 17 years, FE&S published the results of Best in Class surveys, naming the top brands as named by readers.

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2011 Best in Class Awards - Overall Winners

Foodservice operators, dealers and consultants cast their votes for the best of the best among foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers.

While every foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturer contributes to the industry’s success in their own way, the fact remains that only a few have earned the right to claim that they are truly Best in Class in the eyes of their customers. That’s because the only way to achieve this elite status is to provide value in multiple ways as defined by the customer. With that in mind, Foodservice Equipment and Supplies presents the data from our 2011 Best in Class Study.

During the past few months FE&S partnered with an international research firm to ask its subscribing foodservice operators, dealers and consultants to evaluate equipment and supplies manufacturers on seven critical characteristics that impact their purchasing decisions. These seven performance factors are:

  • Product quality
  • Product value
  • Product design and aesthetics
  • Service and support
  • Sales representation
  • Product inventory and availability
  • Product information availability

Those participating in the survey prioritized these factors in order of importance and then rated the individual factories they work with in a given product category on these attributes. The individual results were then combined with those from other participants from the category to create a composite score and identify those manufacturers that the readers of FE&S feel are the Best in Class for each of 48 product categories. These comprehensive results highlight those factories that establish the benchmark for understanding and meeting the needs of the entire distribution channel.

Best in Class: Overall

Heavy Equipment Category Winner
Blast Chillers American Panel
Braising Pans/Tilting Skillets Cleveland
Charbroilers Vulcan
Chef Counters - Prefabricated Advance Tabco
Combi-Ovens Alto-Shaam
Convection Oven Blodgett
Conveyor Ovens Lincoln
Cook and Hold Ovens Alto-Shaam
Cooking Suites Southbend
Custom Stainless Steel Fabrication Advance Tabco
Deck Ovens Blodgett
Dishwasher/Warewasher Hobart
Floor Mixers Hobart
Free Standing Floor Fryers Frymaster
Ice Makers Manitowoc
Mobile Hot Holding Equipment Alto-Shaam
Ranges, Gas or Electric Vulcan
Refrigerated Prep Tables True Food Service Equipment
Steam Jacketed Kettles Cleveland
Steamers Cleveland
Upright/Reach-In Refrigeration Traulsen
Ventilation Systems Captive-Aire
Walk-In Refrigeration Thermo-Kool



Light Equipment Category Winner
Beverage Blenders Vita-Mix
Coffee Brewers Bunn-O-Matic
Conveyor Toasters Hatco
Countertop Batch Ovens Bakers Pride
Countertop Griddles Vulcan
Disposers Salvajor
Dual Technology Ovens Turbo Chef
Electric Food Processors Robot Coupe
Electric Slicers Hobart
Heat Lamps Hatco
Induction Cooktops Vollrath
Manual Food Choppers/Slicers Vollrath
Microwave Ovens Amana
Part and Accessories Franklin Machine Parts
Scales Hobart
Shelving Metro
Sinks, Prefabricated Advance Tabco
Underbar Fabrication Glastender
Underbar Refrigeration True Food Service Equipment
Worktables - Prefabricated Advance Tabco



Smallwares Category Winner
Cookware Vollrath
Cutlery Henckel
Food Storage Containers Cambro
Table Top/Buffet Serving Accessories Vollrath
Thermometers/Sensors Taylor