Question:

We are looking for a bespoke 4-tiered seafood display in which each shelf will be an ice well – rough visual below:

We need suggestions/costs back fairly urgently so your help would be appreciated!

Replies:

1. Contact Lee Preston at Inox Fabrications.
2. Try Valera if not probably a bespoke unit would have to made.
3. ‘Nelson Commercial Kitchens’ have said We can help, just need dimensions width depth and height please and location of site. Contact Taylor Cullen via taylor@commercialkitchens.co.uk
4. ‘Lloyd Catering Equipment’ have said ‘Yes we can manufacture this no problem’. Please contact Jason Cunliffe via Jason@lloyd-catering.co.uk
5. ‘Modo Commercial Kitchen Design’ have said; I have made something similar in the past, basically a tiered brass ice well lined, drainage set into the legs. It’s important to line the well with something like neoprene to stop condensation building up on the outside. We can make this in our factory if suitable. Contact: Dewi Morgan via dewi@modo-ckd.com

Question:

Do you know of any suppliers that can replace marble tops in the Northampton/ Brackley area?

Replies:

1. Claire Smith – Email: claire.smith@abdadesign.co.uk / Tel: 01604 770686 – at ceda Member company ‘ABDA Design Consultants Ltd’ has said they may be able to help if you contact her and she has further information.
2. Try CED they may know of a Stone Mason or marble supplier that might help.
3. Try Corsair Engineering over in Banbury may be able to help, they do Stainless serveries, clients must ask for Marble finish occasionally.
4. You could try Granite Planet who are based in Worcestershire but work all over the country. Whilst they primarily supply domestic kitchens, they are certainly equipped to supply and fit the Marble, but it might mean another contractor removing the existing tops.
   Their email address is info@graniteplanet.co.uk and phone number is 01386 840868
5. Highly recommend Midland Marble. Details as below:
   Midland Marble Ltd
   Masonry Works
   80 Dollman St
   Birmingham
   B7 4RP
   Tel: 0121 359 3699
6. I can highly recommend PK Worktops Ltd. Contact sales@pkworktopsltd.com or call 01623 592334. Leave a message if they do not answer –  the guys will be out fitting, and they will get back to you as soon as they are able to.

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:

Please could you ask the ceda membership if they know of anywhere that supplies stainless steel sink units and benches that are electronically height adjustable?

Replies:

1. Try Parry Catering.
2. Craven used to do height adjustable table, not sure about sinks.
3. I know a couple of suppliers who specialize in stainless steel sink units and benches that are electronically adjustable, as follows:
   – KCM Catering Equipment
   – RH Products Ltd
4. We have used the below company previously for electronic height adjustable tables and sink units for a wheelchair user in a college catering school environment they were great if you can pass this on:
   Ron Lewingdon – Sales
   DDI: 01604 702198
   Email: sales@rh-products.co.uk
   Web: rh-products.co.uk
   Catering & Laboratory Worktables, Stainless Steel & Adjustable
5. We have had a similar enquiry and have asked Stellex who have been able to help us with a quote,

Question:

We’ve had an enquiry for 20 x mini fridges for a ship. Is there anyone within ceda who might be able to help as I understand that mariner regulations are unique and it’s not something we specialise in.

Replies:

1. Contact: Judith Tatham at R H Morton & Co Ltd via judith.tatham@ntlworld.com
2. Contact Richard Jeffryes at Catercall Ltd via richard.j@catercall.co.uk
3. Contact Glenn Hatch at HK Engineering Ltd via glenn@hkengineeringltd.co.uk
4. Contact Rachel Finch at CE Tech via rachel.finch@ce-tech.info
5. Lec used to do them
6. Try Blue Badger or Tefcold
7. Contact: Gail at Dometic on 01258 424581

Question:

Does anyone use any software to search contracts on public sector procurement across multiple portals?
I have been approached by contracts advance, does anyone use this company or any other similar please?

Replies:

1. We use contracts advance but doubt very much we’ll be continuing our subscription with them though.
   Most of the information found on it we’re either already aware of or easy enough to find when we do our routine portal sweep of opportunities.
   Plus, their data base of already held contracts seemed a bit off, especially when we saw the alleged annual value of one of ours.

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’.