Maidaid Halcyon Celebrates Its 45th Anniversary

Maidaid Halcyon Celebrates Its 45th Anniversary

Maidaid Halcyon is celebrating 45 years as a prominent catering equipment
supplier. 

The company was first formed as Maidaid Ltd back in 1974, by founders who identified the need for under counter cabinet glasswashers for use in the UK hospitality industry. This was a time when the majority of pubs only hand washed using a countertop rotating brush and dried each glass by hand.

After three hard years of trying to sell the concept, the breakthrough eventually occurred with a major pub group. Where single orders from pub tenants or owners turned into regular order stream, resulting in dramatic growth for the company.

Maidaid machines are still the product of choice for this pub group, now being supplied by one of their loyal distributors.

As the company grew it merged its Halcyon and Maidaid brands enabling the company to offer the unrivaled range it continues to present today.

Once the company decided to focus on warewashing it felt the time was right to introduce larger rack and flight machines into its regular range. Maidaid Halcyon are one of the few warewashing suppliers that consider a rack machine a stock item.

The success of this approach has resulted in the company keeping stock of basic models which have recently been reengineered for improved energy efficiency, serviceability and end-user interface.

Now, the business is recognised as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of glasswashers, dishwashers, utensil/potwashers, racks & flight machines and icemakers.

Maidaid Halcyon also provide a range of ancillary products including water softeners and water treatment devices as well as best quality specialist detergents.

The company is delighted that its efforts in providing a first-class service have received industry-wide recognition, winning awards from CEDA, Catering Insight and ENSE in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The Maidaid Halcyon range can now be considered one of the most comprehensive from any warewashing equipment supplier.

During its 45 year history, Maidaid Halcyon have achieved an almost unbeatable reputation within the distributor catering industry, citing its employees as a major contribution.

Sales Director, Julian Lambert, from Maidaid Halcyon, said: “We will continue to work hard to add further customer satisfaction. Maidaid’s employees are our company’s greatest asset and therefore every effort is made to further develop their product knowledge and  appreciation of the company structure and the key role they all play in the delivery of a service they can be proud of.”

To find out more about Maidaid Halcyon’s range, visit  www.maidaid.co.uk, email sales@maidaid-halcyon.co.uk or call 0345 130 8070.


Specifi News Update October 2019

Specifi News Update October 2019

Specifi are delighted to announce the appointment of Nic Banner to Vice President of Sales for the UK and Ireland. Nic will be working alongside Stuart Campbell until the end of November to ensure a smooth transition for our consultants, manufacturers and dealer markets.

Nic can be contacted on 0044 (0) 7976 628 429 or n.banner@specifiglobal.com

In addition to Nic’s appointment, we are also recruiting a UK based Technical Support Engineer to ensure that the introduction of Specifi for our new clients will prove a seamless transition from their current specification software and at the same time having a locally based support for our existing users.

Host Milan 2019 has been and gone and we are delighted to announce that we have signed up many new manufacturers to Specifi Share, making it even easier for dealers and consultants to specify their products.

The launch of Specifi Design Express at Host Milan has proved a great success. Specifi Design Express introduces new product libraries, automated numbering, custom project scheduling, 3D display and direct synchronization to a quote.

Specifi’s Solutions to Help You Save Time and Make Money

Design Starter Pack: Do more. Pay less with Specifi Design Express. Contains essential features from industry leader Specifi Design at an entry-level price.

For design pros: Design a commercial kitchen in half the time with Specifi Design – A plugin that integrates with AutoCAD® or Revit®. Includes manufacturer libraries & equipment customisation.

For Dealers: Upgrade to the industry’s most flexible, customisable and powerful quotation program – Specifi Quote.

For Everybody: Access manufacturer product symbols and price lists – for free. Specifi Share has what you need. Now.

For Manufacturers: Your product symbols and price lists created and future-proofed. Specifi Studio creates content for leading manufacturers.


catering equipment support

New Chair and Vice Chair Appointed to ceda Academy

New Chair and Vice Chair Appointed to ceda Academy

ceda are pleased to announce two new appointments to the Academy. Mike Shea, of the commercial catering design company Vision Commercial Kitchens has been chosen as Chair, whilst Macauley Knight, of Archer Catering Systems, who offer catering equipment support, has been selected as Vice Chair.

It is hoped that their appointments will inspire more young people to choose the catering industry for their career path.  

Mike Shea commented, “It’s an honour to have been considered, let alone to be appointed, as the ceda Academy Chairman. I’m excited about the future and look forward to working alongside Macauley and the rest of the Academy to finalise our objectives and goals for the next twelve months and of course our journey to achieving them. We are very grateful to Adam, Fiona and the wider ceda network for all the support and hospitality we have received so far.”

Macauley Knight was similarly enthusiastic, saying, “I’m very grateful and excited to be selected as the Vice Chair of the ceda Academy. I am looking forward to working alongside Mike and driving us, ‘the younger generation’, forward in the catering industry.”

Jack Sharkey, Managing Director at Vision Commercial Kitchens, who supported Mike’s appointment, stated, “The ceda Academy has been a great initiative; it engages with the next generation and the future of our industry.

“I am really pleased for both Mike and Macauley, as taking on the roles of Chair and Vice Chair will not only help to develop them individually and personally, but I have no doubt they will also help to develop and shape our industry in the future.”

Nick Archer, Director of Archer Catering Systems, reflected on Macauley’s journey within the catering industry: “Macauley came to work for us on the service side of the business; we quickly realised that he had some potential to be able to work on projects and attend site meetings. 

“Since he has undertaken this role he has gone from strength to strength. He is well regarded by our own in-house engineers and has also built himself a good reputation with our client base for being organised and conscientious about how he goes about his work.”

He continued, “I am sure Macauley will take this role in his stride working alongside Mike and will prove himself a very capable Vice Chairman of the Academy.

“I would also like to add to wish Mike good luck in his role. It is important that we get some younger people into our industry and I am sure with Mike and Mac at the forefront of the Academy this will be a great way forward.”

catering equipment support

Sprint Group Appoint New HR Manager

Sprint Group Appoint New HR Manager

Sprint Group have appointed Kate Lloyd-Davies as their new HR Manager, supporting the Group’s focus on continual improvement and the people within their expanding team.

Kate is an experienced and commercially focused chartered Human Resources (HR) generalist joining Sprint to ensure the growth of the team is in line with the business’ strategic plans for the future.

Previously, Kate was employed within a variety of industries including unified communications, publishing and media, retail, FMCG and engineering although Sprint Group is the first family owned and run commercial catering organisation she’s worked for.

Kate said: “I joined Sprint Group as HR Manager last month and jumped straight into putting the finishing touches together for the 25th anniversary celebrations which took place on Saturday and were a great success.

I’m now looking forward to working with Ross, Luke and the rest of the Board of Directors to grow the company by focusing on its people, which are Sprint Group’s greatest assets.”

Sprint’s Managing Director, Tom Bartley-Smith agreed: “We’re delighted to welcome Kate to the Sprint family. Her appointment forms part of our strategy of continuous improvement and we’re confident that she will make a meaningful difference to the whole business.”

If you’d like to chat with Sprint Group, please call the team on 01386 555922 or email sales@sprint-group.co.uk for more information about how they can design and fit the perfect kitchen or bar for you and your business.


Electrolux Professional Launches New Brand and Fully Integrated Offer for the Hospitality Industry at Host 2019

Electrolux Professional launches new brand and fully integrated offer for the hospitality industry at Host 2019

ceda Platinum Partner, Electrolux Professional – the OnE global player in Food, Beverage and Laundry – prepares for an historical attendance at Host – the leading exhibition in the hospitality and catering industry. The new Electrolux Professional brand will be launched and new and exciting products will be on stage – represented by the SkyLine Cook&Chill, SpeeDelight, and the brand new Beverage offering.

At the Host exhibition (18 to 22 October 2019 in Milan) Electrolux Professional is officially introducing the new Electrolux Professional brand, replacing the Electrolux logo. The new brand identity is still recognized but has a clearer positioning creating an improved orientation for customers. It also demonstrates that Electrolux Professional is the OnE global business partner under one brand.

Alberto Zanata, President of Electrolux Professional commented: “This edition of Host promises to be an historical attendance for the company, being the right stage to present some of our latest champions. In addition, our new brand will support us in our work to be the OnE trusted partner offering a full set of best-in class products and superior customer care and innovation. And to make their work-life easier, more profitable – and truly sustainable every day”.

The mission on stage
Electrolux Professional will take center stage to demonstrate its core values and identity, offering delegates an immersive experience of the company mission to make the customers’ work-life easier, more profitable and truly sustainable every day.

Indeed, this year’s exhibition will allow Host visitors to find out why and how Electrolux Professional aims at being the OnE trusted partner for customers, managing all their operations and creating the ultimate business value for them, over a lifetime:

– integrating a wide offer for Food, Beverage and Laundry under one brand;

– leading the way in designing solutions with sustainability and human centric approach at heart, so that they are easy to use, maintain and service, but also productive, efficient and reliable;

– helping customers to increase productivity thanks to a web platform to manage their entire operations: products and services will be connected, so that their performance will be visible via real-time access to data; moreover, customers will have one contact point for a lean and effective service.

Ultimately, ergonomics will be on stage. Electrolux Professional is aware that chefs can get the most out of ergonomically designed kitchen appliances in terms of profitability, streamlined flows, and quality of the workplace. At Host, the company will showcase its pioneering 4-star ergonomics certified by ErgoCert, a certifying institute that tests products to assure they meet the highest ergonomic standards.

The innovation on stage
SkyLine – the new ovens and blast chillers range – will be the flagship for all the chef live demos on the booth. Based on the combination of smart technology and human-centered design, SkyLine is born to set a new bar in the Cook&Chill, and in the overall professional kitchen business.

The unique SkyDuo allows the oven and the blast chiller to be synchronized and communicate with each other, thus making the work-life in the kitchen leaner, getting always top food quality with the highest productivity.

SpeeDelight – the high speed cooking solution designed to deliver a variety of tasty grab-and-go dishes more than 3 times faster than traditional appliances – will be on stage highlighting the business opportunity created by delivering trendy menus at record speed, from breakfast delights to dinner gourmet – all around the clock.

Attendees will be the first in the world to experience the recently launched range for Beverage: a wide portfolio of professional appliances for hot, chilled and frozen beverages, as well as soft-serve ice cream. With this new offering, Electrolux Professional is able to provide a full inclusive offer to its customers.

Visit us at Host: 18-22 October – Hall 2, Booth L32 M23


ceda Welcomes New Member

ceda Welcomes New Member

We are pleased to announce that Safeguard Refrigeration Services Ltd have joined us as a ceda Service Member. 

They have a local reputation as a market leader and are building a national profile through their commitment to delivering excellent customer service and value for money products. 

They offer a UK wide network of specialist qualified engineers providing fast, effective repairs. Their offering includes a full preventative maintenance service that gives support after most manufacturers’ warranties and guarantees have expired.  

They supply refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and extraction systems and cookline equipment. They also offer interior fit-outs and stainless steel fabrication. 

You can view their website here.


ceda call for Mates in Mind survey feedback to help strengthen mental health awareness in the foodservice equipment industry

ceda call for Mates in Mind survey feedback to help strengthen mental health awareness in the foodservice equipment industry

ceda is calling for all members, partners and the whole Industry to take part in an important mental health survey as part of World Mental Health Awareness Day (10th October 2019).

As announced in this year’s ceda Conference, ceda have partnered with Mates in Mind as they seek to highlight the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace. The issue of mental health amongst those who work in the construction and engineering industries is a topic that has been ignored for too long.

Together, ceda and Mates in Mind are undertaking an Industry-wide survey to understand the issues seen at an organisational level, the impact they have on the people and the businesses themselves. The aim is to fully understand the range of support mechanisms currently in place, identify gaps as well as identifying areas of existing good practice.

ceda and Mates in Mind invite all employees throughout the foodservice industry to take part in the questionnaire. All the results of the questionnaire will remain completely confidential. No information which can identify the respondent, or their organisation will be shared outside of the research team within Mates in Mind.

The results of the survey will be shared only in aggregate format.

Adam Mason, Director General of ceda commented “This is an important issue for all of those involved in the ceda family and in our wider industry. We urge everyone to participate so we can identify where we are currently with support mechanisms and what steps we can take to help our members have an effective programme in place to manage the mental health and wellbeing of their people.”

Link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NYZC2R7


Back in Black for Liebherr Host Launch

Back in Black for Liebherr Host Launch 

At Host, ceda Platinum Partner Liebherr plans to present innovative ideas and highlights from its extensive range of professional fridges and freezers.

Along with other brand-new products and improved models we will be presenting our new BlackLine and BlackSteel models. They are specifically aimed at design-orientated customers in foodservice and are ideal for front-of-house using colour as an eye-catching design element.

Another highlight is the display of the professional SmartMonitoring appliance monitoring system. This will be alongside Liebherr’s expertise in beverage storage with sophisticated multi-zone temperature-controlled wine storage cabinets and our durable, space-saving and highly energy efficient drinks fridges.

Visit us in Pavilion 5, Stand P15 Q18 for inspiration from our high quality German engineered professional refrigeration and freezer solutions.

We have a limited number of Free 2 Day and Free 5 Day tickets available for business partners interested in visiting our stand at Host. Please email: Stephen.Ongley@liebherr.com to obtain tickets.


cedaSAFE Update

cedaSAFE Update

We’re pleased to announce that two new companies have received their cedaSAFE accreditation in September. They are:

  • Space Catering (UK) Ltd
  • Hatherley Commercial Services Limited

cedaSAFE is a health and safety accreditation available to any company working in the sector that achieve the necessary Health & Safety levels and covers both Design and Installation.

It has been devised as a result of discussion with the Health & Safety Executive who have highlighted a need to reduce bureaucracy and the cost of the various pre-qualification assessments, by establishing a single assessment standard for our Industry.

It is the most efficient accreditation to attain in terms of the paperwork required and it is the most cost-effective scheme to achieve. Yet, crucially, it achieves the same level of core criteria as all of the other schemes that are in the marketplace at the moment.

It requires the absolute necessary information but no more, so it is in no way diluted in order to make its’ attainment easy or cheap.

Visit our cedaSAFE information page

#healthandsafety #accreditations


TAG Team to Defend Cyclone24 Title

TAG Team to Defend Cyclone24 Title

A team from ceda Member TAG Catering Equipment UK Ltd, the award-winning foodservice design experts, will be taking on the Cyclone24 Cycle Challenge in Newport on 20th October, hoping to defend its title from last year and raise £1,250 for charity in the process.

Cyclone24 is the UK’s original 24 hour velodrome cycle challenge event series. It pitches teams against each other over a 24 hour period in a relay format. It’s said to be a real challenge of strength, determination and team spirit. This year it takes place on 20th to 21st October, at The Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales.

In 2018 a team of six lead by Project & Creative Director, Tyron Stephens-Smith won the overall title, completing an impressive 3836 laps, equivalent to 959km, breaking the Welsh record for the event in the process.

This year a team from TAG will be re-entering, hoping to defend their title and raise £1,250 for the Velindre Cancer Centre in the process.

“The 2018 event was the hardest thing I’ve ever done both mentally and physically” commented Tyron Stephens-Smith.

“Despite the event proving to be a real challenge, we are delighted to be back for 2019 to defend our title and hopefully raise £1,250 for the Velindre Cancer Centre”.

Velindre is Wales’ premier cancer centre providing treatment, care and support to patients and their families. Money raised through fundraisers allows them to support projects over and above those provided by the NHS including ground breaking research, specialist equipment, nurses and staff training.

“Velindre have been great in helping people close to the team and we are excited to offer support for how fantastic they’ve been” concluded Tyron.

The team from TAG are seeking sponsorship for the event via GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/y5x5ay-24-hour-bike-race