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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2013 Best in Class - Overall Results

Our subscribing foodservice operators, dealers and consultants make their selections for the best of the best among foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers.

BICLogo2013Every equipment and supplies manufacturer plays their own unique role in shaping the foodservice industry's success, but only a few can truly claim they are Best in Class in the eyes of their customers. That's because the only way to achieve this elite status is to provide value on the customer's terms across multiple disciplines. With that in mind, Foodservice Equipment and Supplies presents the data from our 2013 Best in Class Study.

During the past few months FE&S asked its subscribing operators, consultants and dealers 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.

Here we proudly present the winners from our 2013 study.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT Category Winner
Blast Chillers Traulsen
Braising Pans/Tilting Skillets Cleveland
Charbroilers Vulcan
Chef Counters - Prefabricated Delfield
Combi Ovens Alto-Shaam
Convection Ovens Blodgett
Conveyor Ovens Lincoln
Cook and Hold Ovens Alto-Shaam
Custom Stainless Steel Fabrication Advance Tabco
Deck Ovens Blodgett
Dishwashers/Warewashers Hobart
Floor Mixers Hobart
Free Standing Floor Fryers Frymaster
Ice Makers Manitowoc Ice
Mobile Hot Food Holding Equipment Hatco
Ranges, Gas and Electric Vulcan
Refrigerated Prep Tables True Manufacturing
Steam-Jacketed Kettles Cleveland
Steamers Cleveland
Upright Reach-In Refrigeration True Manufacturing
Ventilation Systems CaptiveAire
Walk-In Refrigerators Thermo-Kool

 

LIGHT EQUIPMENT Category Winner
Beverage Blenders Vitamix
Coffee Brewers Bunn-O-Matic
Conveyor Toasters Hatco
Countertop Batch Ovens Bakers Pride
Countertop Griddles Vulcan
Disposers Salvajor
Dual Technology Ovens TurboChef
Electric Food Processors Robot Coupe
Electric Slicers Hobart
Heat Lamps Hatco
Induction Cooktops Vollrath
Manual Food Choppers Vollrath
Microwave Ovens Amana
Parts and Accessories Franklin Machine Products (FMP)
Scales Edlund Company
Shelving Metro
Sinks, Prefabricated Advance Tabco
Underbar Fabrication Perlick
Underbar Refrigeration True Manufacturing
Worktables, Prefabricated Advance Tabco

 

SMALLWARES Category Winner
Cookware Vollrath
Cutlery Dexter-Russell
Food Storage Containers Cambro
Tabletop and Buffet Serving Accessories Vollrath
Thermometers/Sensors Cooper-Atkins