Kitchen Suppliers You Should Know
Contacto
Managing Director Stephen Goodliff reveals more about the firm
Tell us more about your company?
Contacto was established in 1958 in Germany as an arm of a Swedish cookware manufacturer, who developed and patented a process for producing what is now commonly referred to as the sandwich base for pots and pans, where a layer of aluminium is sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel to give even heat conductivity. As the result of this connection, we were allowed to use the Swedish Royal Crown in our logo.
Export expansion eventually led to Contacto being set up in the UK to develop the UK and Irish markets, as well as the Middle East and Asia through importers, OEMs and dealers/distributors. We have been exporting to the UAE and elsewhere in the Middle East ever since we started in 1993.
Why should a restaurant/hotel pick you?
We’ve got over 20 years’ experience supplying the Middle East with a huge range of high quality stainless steel table top and bar accessories, as well as professional cookware and utensils, many of which are manufactured within our group or using our own tooling, and which are in strong demand among both quick service, casual and fine dining restaurants. All our products are available in the UAE through our authorised long established and well respected local distributor, Al Majal, based at the Arenco Building on Zabeel Road, with whom we’ve always worked closely.
What are your current hot products?
Our hot products include induction pans, both stainless and copper and, as ever, our pizza pans, peels and screens.
Contact:
Contacto Limited
Tel: +44 121 605 5522
Email: sales@contacto.co.uk
Web: www.contacto.co.uk
Al Majal Company LLC
Tel: +9714 337 5135
Email: almajal@emirates.net.ae
Web: www.almajal-dubai.com
Charvet
Charvet CEO Pierre-Alain Augagneur reveals the company is focusing heavily on the needs of the Middle East market
Tell us about your company?
For almost 100 years, located at the foot of the Chartreuse Mountains in France, Charvet has been manufacturing heavy duty premier cooking ranges, which have been crafted to exacting standard and built to last. Charvet has also recently opened an office in Dubai to satisfy the needs of the Middle East market.
Why should a restaurant or hotel pick you as a supplier?
Charvet manufactures only premier heavy-duty cooking ranges, that any chef and restaurant would be proud to have in their kitchen. Charvet has models to satisfy all needs and requirements, including gas, electric and induction. The range starts with the entry level Charvet One through to the completely bespoke, gold label models.
What are your current hot products?
Charvet has just launched its new entry level Charvet One, and we also have the ‘Rise and Fall’ Charvet salamander. The Charvet One series is made for caterers who need a short-term investment return, but who still require robust equipment that caters for a wide menu choice. Salamander has a rise and fall option with a plate detection system and can save up to 30% energy, but still achieves an impressive 400c in just nine seconds.
One trend in kitchens you are seeing in the current market?
There is a new market for those that do not want a range that will last over 20 years, such as outlets who change their concept every five or seven years. The Charvet One allow us to offer these companies a heavy-duty range that comes with a more accessible price which delivers the return on investment they require.
How do we contact you?
Tel: +971 55 554 3964
Email: sales@charvet.ae
Web: www.charvet.co.uk
Adande Refrigeration
Tell us about your company?
Adande Refrigeration is a market leader in the design, development and manufacture of sustainable refrigeration products and technologies that offer real energy savings and lower operational costs.
Why should a restaurant/hotel pick you?
Adande products are specified in top hotels and restaurants; key chefs have testified to their usefulness in busy, hot kitchen environments, as well as the benefits of keeping the cook-line efficient with less staff movements and quick cleaning regimes. This gives real reassurance to companies picking Adande as a supplier (also in recognising a great global supply chain, service support and warranty for peace of mind).
What are your current hot products?
This year has seen major awards at Hofex and Host Fieramilano for the Matchbox Hydrocarbon, with the unique Shallow Drawer (recently renamed Slimline) which gives more flexibility in finished heights, achieving Premier Prix at Horecatel. Just as you can’t compare a combi with a standard oven, neither can you equate traditional refrigeration with the modular Adande. Results from respected test facilities show that Adande technology has clear performance advantages and dramatic food quality preservation.
One trend in kitchens you are seeing in the current market?
It’s the trend for smaller, smarter, multi-functional spaces and energy-saving kitchens. More and more demand for refrigerated drawers is being seen in the market, but no other brand can match our ‘Hold the Cold’ technology — it’s the first real innovation in refrigeration for over 70 years.
How can we contact you?
Tel: +44 (0)844 376 0023
Email: info@adande.com; paul.harper@adande.com
Web: www.adande.com
Rational
Simon Parke-Davis, VP for business development in Middle East talks about Rational’s cooking intelligence
Tell us about your company?
Rational is a specialist in hot food preparation. For more than 40 years, the company has been developing cooking appliances for large and commercial kitchens. Pioneering innovations have made the company, based in Southern Germany, into the world’s market and technology leader by a wide margin.
Why should a restaurant or hotel pick you as a supplier?
Rational was the first manufacturer worldwide to combine steam and hot air in one kitchen appliance. The Rational combination steamer was a revolution for professional chefs, influencing the entire gastronomy industry, and is still today one of the most significant innovations of its kind.
Over the decades, Rational has never stopped refining its cooking appliances, and its “Never ‘Me Too’’’ philosophy has enabled this product leader to continuously revolutionise performance standards. Cooking technology witnesses a quantum leap every seven years thanks to Rational. The recipe for the company’s success and its corporate objective is to always offer every customer maximum benefits.
What are your current hot products?
The company’s latest innovation was the introduction of the SelfCookingCenter 5 Senses — the first intelligent cooking system that senses, recognises, thinks ahead, learns from its users and even communicates with them. The SelfCookingCenter 5 Senses is the only cooking system in the world with five senses. This new appliance is the result of 40 years of cooking research. It has been developed by chefs for chefs. Together with food scientists, physicists and engineers, Rational has brought food quality, efficiency and cooking intelligence up to a new standard.
One trend in kitchens you are seeing in the current market?
One of the major trends is undoubtedly the change in the working demographic. The shortage of qualified staff is experienced in nearly all segments of industry. It is clearly evident today that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified chefs. There will be a deficit of thousands of chefs in many countries in the years ahead. Energy and water prices are also rising exponentially and we haven’t even mentioned rising rents in urban areas.
Modern kitchen technology must be able to cook to perfection a range of food at the same time, automatically, at the touch of a button. The latest kitchen technology works fast and efficiently, while consuming minimum amounts of energy and water. The latest kitchen technology is multi-functional and can be used to cook all types of food.
In general, more and more people all over the world attach great importance to sustainability. Rational products not only bring its customers financial savings through lower consumption of power, water and raw materials and reduced use of chemicals, but the products even protect the environment and help chefs operate in a sustainable manner.
How do we contact you?
Tel: +971 4 338 6615
Email: info@rational-middleeast.com
Web: www.rational-middleeast.com
Friedr. Dick GMBH & Co. KG
Tell us about your company?
Friedr. Dick was founded in Esslingen, Germany, in 1778 and is still a family business.
Why should a restaurant or hotel pick you as a supplier?
Dick is the only global manufacturer to offer a complete range of knives, sharpening steels and tools for chefs and butchers as well as butcher’s equipment and grinding machines. Dick products are produced with German precision using traditional manufacturing methods and state-of-the-art technology. Our partners and authorised dealers all over the world guarantee best service and fast support. Dick supports its brand reputation with a lifetime guarantee for all our products.
Our products are absolutely hygienic thanks to the gap-free connection between the plastic handle and the blade or steel. The handle absorbs neither grease nor dirt, is easy to clean, is shock-proof and impact resistant.
What are your current hot products?
The Red Spirit Series was inspired by Asian craftsmanship, and is now complemented by two additional Asian classics. These are: the Yanagiba and the Tanto. The Yanagiba is a sushi knife in Asian regions and is used for filleting both fish and meat. Its name comes from the shape of the blade, which is inspired by the fine leaves of the willow tree — called yanagi in Japanese.
Tanto is the Japanese name for a short sword, which originates from traditional Asian and Japanese martial arts. Tanto is an extraordinary knife for cutting meat and vegetables. The two phases of the cutting edge give the Tanto its impressive look and outstanding sharpness.
One trend in kitchens you are seeing in the current market?
From our point of view, we’re actually experiencing three trends: sustainability, desire for products made in Germany, and desire for functionality.
How do we contact you?
Tel: +49 7153 8170
Email: mail@dick.de
Web: www.fdick.com