Question:

I know it’s a bit early, but we have a customer who is after a supply of Christmas crackers, do you know any suppliers that can source these?

Replies:

1. I used to work for a Company called Ace Essential Supplies based in Cardiff who sold lots of crackers to local hotels and restaurants. Due to the volume they buy direct from the manufacturer (SWANTEX) the prices were really competitive, I believe they may need to go via a distributor rather than SWANTEX direct.
   ACE normally have their stock catalogue available from July, with matching tablecloths and napkins etc. They can organise direct delivery anywhere in the UK. Tel: 02920 36 9369 and ask to speak with either Mark Smith or Mike Beecham who are on the sales team – they should be able to help.
2. From my background in a hotel, I always used DA Cooke Wholesale. Contact details are: Tel: 01793 831118 Website: http://www.dacooke.co.uk/
3. Matthew Parsons at Polaris. Tel: 07563 854981 Email: mparsons@polaris-dguk.com Website: www.polaris-dguk.com
4. Paul Thompson Single Use Paper Company t/a Hotel Festive. Tel: 07946 318 222 Email: pnt@singleusepaperco.com 
5. Castlebar Catering. Tel: 01525 712002
6. A quick Google search brought up the following as a supplier of crackers to the hospitality trade – https://www.dawndirect.com/christmas/christmas-crackers.html 

Question:

We supplied a customer with a Rexmartins REVFCS-03 Front Cooking Station. The customer has requested a User Manual but unfortunately due to the age of the project and a change of systems, we do not have any information on file. Unfortunately, it seems Rexmartins are not contactable due to the company being dissolved in Autumn 2024.
All we have found is an online brochure for Rexmartins which is where the below screenshot has come from.
Do any ceda Members have any documentation for this model in file?

Replies:

1. I believe RM used to obtain most of their kit from the same Chinese supplier. We have Sergio sergiocola@hotmail.com as a contact we have managed to get diagrams and parts from previously.

Question:

I need some help from the wider industry. We have a client with table top ceran hot plates as shown in the pictures attached. We have been asked to provide some new ones. Unfortunately, there are no manufacturers details on the units, and they don’t recall who supplied them. Could you circulate and ask if anyone can help me track down a supplier?

Replies:

1. ceda Member ‘Contiquip Ltd’ said ‘Getting the complete unit we have always found hard when no details, However we have always gone to Hawco https://www.hawco.co.uk/industrial/process-heating/ceran-glass-heater-assembly/ And then had our fabricator make the surround or just replace the glass and reseal. Happy to send on details if they want to have a chat. Contact Greg Archer: Email: greg@contiquip.com or Tel: 0161 925 9170
2. ceda Member ‘Berkeley Projects Ltd’ have said ‘We manufacture similar portable hotplates, please see attached.  Contact Sarah Trish: Email: saraht@berkeleyprojects.co.uk  or Tel 0208 643 1228
3. Hawco will provide the heat mats.
4. It looks like a CED one – here is their contact details. CED Fabrications – 01254 238282 Email: linzi@cedlimited.com
5. They could try searching ‘Salton Hot trays’ not sure if they are still around but the product in the pics looks familiar….
6. From the photos they look to be custom-fabricated – the handles are a bit of a give-away, being a standard fabrication component (Oxford Hardware/Die Pat). Fabrication shops have access to multiple Ceran plate sizes for servery counters etc, so not unusual that these might have been made-to-order. If a standard replacement is required, however, Hatco or Vollrath (via FEM) may have a suitable unit.
7. Not sure what the make or model is so can’t help you get exact replacements unfortunately. I have attached (HGSM 4060) the spec for a product that would be a suitable replacement and let me know if you need any other info or prices.
8. Hawco. Been using them for many years – https://www.hawco.co.uk/
   They do bespoke and off the shelf cerans too – remember to ask your client to include the heat proof sealing silicone (it’s black and not cheap but needed!). Also, the sealant needs to cure for at least 24 hours so advise who is fitting the new ones to book in properly with a senior staff member. I say from experience!!
9. Send the member the link below, I have a feeling they used to make bespoke sizes also: https://www.undercontrol.co.uk/collections/ceran-heated-glass

Question:

Can the ceda membership recommend a small fleet vehicle insurer that they find both at reasonable cost and easy to deal with. We have 10 vehicles and our insurance has more than doubled in the last year.

Replies:

1. Marsh Commercial – ceda Associate – Marsh Commercial – ceda
2. We use NFU and have used them for many years with no complaints although I appreciate that this is not a small vehicle fleet insurer.
3. We use Marsh Commercial for our fleet insurance, but we only have 4 cars.
4. We find these really competitive – https://thompson.insure/
5. We use Marsh Commercial. Speak to Leah Gregory via leah.gregory@marshcommercial.co.uk
6. They can try this one – https://www.bluedropservices.co.uk/
7. We use a company called Ascot Insurance Brokers, they look after us from all our insurance aspects. Contact Jamie Ingham via jamie@aibrokers.co.uk 
8. We use Borland Insurance (Brokers) Edinburgh – AssuredPartners UK now Assured Partners. We have found them very reasonable over the past three years, our premium for this year did increase but it was less than £200.

Question:

I am trying to find a UK supplier for POLIN equipment.

Replies:

1. Brook Food and Bakery Equipment – https://www.brookfood.co.uk/#/
2. Contact ‘Millers Catering Equipment’.

Question:

I am trying to source a fan assisted oven, for education catering, similar to the old Moorwood Vulcan electric ovens.

• 900mm wide
• 230V 6KW, power rating
• 4 x 2/1 GN capacity
• Fan assisted

It is a plain top oven only. Critically needs to be 230V 6KW maximum loading.

Replies:

1. Contact ‘Millers Catering Equipment’.
2. I’m sure Blue Seal do a very similar model from memory.
3. Contact ‘Acme Facilities Group Limited’.
4. Falcon do one the E2102. Spec sheet that includes the E2102 below – E2112-Spec-Sheet.pdf
5. I would definitely recommend a Falcon E3101OTC.

Question:

We have a project on the islands of Turks and Caicos.

We need to purchase equipment, specifically prime cooking equipment.
Single phase 120 volt 60 hz.
Three phase 208 volt 60 hz

We are looking for suppliers that we can place an order with in the UK and have the equipment delivered to our warehouse.

Replies:

1. Contact: Millers Catering Equipment
2. I believe MKN maybe an option
3. Contact: Space Group
4. Contact: Grey Simmonds Food Service Equipment Limited

Question:

I have a request for an under- counter refrigerator, 600mm x 600mm x 750mm high( max height). Stainless steel door, left or right-hand hinge.
This is an unusual height, can anyone supply these – delivery to Manchester?

Replies:

1. Osborne will help with this.
2. Coincidentally I had the same kind of requirement early on in the year – a search which I failed with miserably.
   I couldn’t find one anywhere and ended up using a refrigerated base from Adande which wasn’t ideal but did the job to a certain degree.
3. ceda Member ‘Roland Allen Catering Equipment’ have said ‘You won’t be able to get a 750mm high in UK but we may be able to help.
4. ceda Member ‘Grey Simmonds Food Service Equipment Limited’ may be able to help.

Question:

We’ve been asked by two different clients to provide a CapEx report on their catering equipment; to include depreciation costs as this will help them with their net zero sustainability projections. One area I’m struggling with is determining the life expectancy of various equipment, as I understand this might vary across different manufacturers and I can’t seem to find anything concrete online.

My question being Is, is there a recognised industry standard for the life expectancy of the following equipment.

• Combination ovens, gas/elec
• Fryers, gas,elec
• Fridges/freezers
• Solid top/ open top ranges
• Food processing equipment
• Servery/hotcupboards
• Etc, etc ,etc

Any guidance or resources you can provide would be greatly appreciated, especially in relation to how this might impact sustainability planning.

Replies:

1. There is no known industry standard because there are too many factors that affect life expectancy to generalise.  The following are the factors and some comments.
   • Type of establishment – for example, a school only uses equipment for 3 or 4 hours a day for 5 days a week and is not used for 13 weeks of the year, whereas, a hospital or hotel is using equipment for 3 meals a day and can be in use for 12 or more hours 365 days a year.
   • The brand of equipment – cheaper brands tend to need replacing in as little as 5 years whereas good quality equipment can last 10 or 12 years.
   • The staff – school meals staff are usually well trained and treat the equipment with respect, whereas many restaurant and hotel staff do not respect the equipment.
   • Maintenance – if equipment is regularly checked and maintained, it will last longer than equipment that gets no maintenance other than breakdown repairs.
2. There is work being done to introduce catering equipment into the CICSE TM65 scheme and this will require manufacturers to declare life expectancy amongst other things, however, it is still fairly early in the process.
3. The chairwoman of the TM65 introduction of catering equipment group is Lauren Hunter, and she is happy to have a conversation with you.  She can be contacted at lauren@impact-loop.com

Question:

Are you able to point me in the direction of a company that can supply marine spec bain marie units? Voltages varying from 110/120v 60hz to 415v 3ph 60hz no neutral we have also been asked for 480v in the past.

Replies:

1. This seems like Marine spec. I would get in touch with Moffat or Victor.
2. Try Stuart Russell of CED or Stuart Brereton of MKN.
3. Electrolux Professional – https://www.electroluxprofessional.com/your-business/marine/
4. Marine Bain Marie
   W Christie & Co Ltd is our dedicated marine supply business.
   Bespoke manufacturing is done by R H Morton & Co Ltd RH Morton & Co Ltd – ceda & includes servery counters, hot cupboards & full range of marine stainless steel fabrication.
   This is well represented on rhmorton.com website in the Marine section. We supply commercial supply vessels, ferries, cable layers, dredgers, fishing vessels. –  pretty much anything for the offshore oil & gas industry galleys but not cruise ships.
   We have been undertaking marine work for almost 50 years.
   Enquiries to either our Sales Director – Mark Rodden E: mark@rhmorton.com or Managing Director – Judith Tatham E:  judith.tatham@ntlworld.com