Meaningless superlatives abound in the marketing sphere, overused until they no longer have any impact. The one that you’ll hear over and over in foodservice equipment is “heavy duty”.

Just what does that mean?  Nearly everyone will have a different understanding of this now-hollow descriptor.

Is it metal gauge? Motor size? Will “good enough” be good enough? Is the product fit for your purposes, will it last reasonably long, will the manufacturer fix it breaks?

When purchasing (or specifying) kitchen wares, most folks need a benchmark against which to measure quality.  Advertiser-sponsored trade journals do occasionally attempt to establish value hierarchies.  Specifications often belie nuances in equipment differentiation.

Operators and specifiers often must rely upon the integrity of suppliers to distinguish between “good, better, and best” offerings.  Bear in mind that greater quality units might not be appropriate even if the budget permits its inclusion, just as lesser quality pieces shouldn’t be the automatic default selection because they are cheaper.

The price/value continuum is further complicated by transactional purchases, where little or no expertise is exchanged.   Here, differentiation between vendors should be a critical factor in the selection process.  Often, sadly, it is not.

Clearly then, “Heavy Duty” is in the eye of the beholder.  We submit that a trusted expert supplier must be a key component in the value equation.

The heavy duty rule: Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware)!


 


 

  • Marsal has a large selection of ready-to-ship ovens in stock!  Call us about our end-of-summer freight special.

  • Robert Watson has joined Lakeside as the new Eastern Regional Sales Manager.

 


If you haven’t checked out the beautiful Torino™ Collection from ITI, now is a great time! This elegantly designed coupe-shaped dinnerware collection adds sophistication to any table setting! New for 2017 are the stacking plate options – the clean lines of the stacked plates are perfect for your small plate/Tapas-style dining presentation. Available in 5″, 73/4″, 9″ and 101/4″ diameters, Torino™ covers all your plating needs. Be sure to contact your local ITI Sales Representative for additional information about Torino™ today!

 Download Our Catalogs!