ceda is renaming its Rising Star Award in remembrance and recognition of an industry individual who was devoted to advancing young people within the sector.

Andrew Fordyce, who passed away last year, was the founder and Chairman of ifse; a long time ceda Member company. Mr Fordyce was a champion of bringing young people into the industry and progressing their careers, specifically in roles relating to sales, design, estimating and projects.

Sally Medina, Creative Director at ifse, is a case in point. She said, “As someone who worked closely with Andrew for nearly nine years, I saw firsthand that his true passion wasn’t just in the projects we built, but in the growth of the team.

“Andrew was so much more than a director to me; he was a natural mentor. Looking back, the biggest lesson he taught me wasn’t actually about design; it was about people. He truly believed that empowering the next generation was a responsibility, not a choice, and he taught us how to lead with genuine passion and integrity.

“I know he would be incredibly proud to have his name associated with the rising stars of our industry.”

Andrew’s widow, Maria Fordyce, commented; “Thank you to ceda for honouring Andrew’s memory in this award. He would be delighted that the award will recognise potential, and champion design skills and innovation.”

The inaugural Andrew Fordyce Rising Star Award will be awarded on Wednesday 17th June 2026 at this year’s ceda Conference, alongside the Nick Archer Technical Rising Star Award.

Nominations are now open. Please contact Adam Mason for more information.

Panasonic UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Lydia Cutcliffe as Business Development Manager to its Professional Kitchen division, further strengthening the team as the business continues to grow its presence in the commercial foodservice sector.

With over 10 years of sales experience, Lydia brings extensive expertise to the role. Over eight of those years have been dedicated to supporting and developing B2B accounts, giving Lydia a strong understanding of the needs of commercial partners and operators.

Throughout her career, Lydia has consistently placed the customer at the heart of her approach, a philosophy that aligns closely with Panasonic Professional Kitchen’s commitment to supporting the evolving needs of the foodservice industry.

For more information, email: commercial.ovens@eu.panasonic.com

Pentland Wholesale, ceda Silver Partner, announces the release of their 2026/2027 Product Guide alongside an upcoming price adjustment taking effect 1 April 2026. The updated guide features an expanded portfolio of new and enhanced products across refrigeration, catering equipment, and warewashing, reinforcing Pentland Wholesale’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and innovation across the commercial kitchen sector.

Launching in tandem with the April pricing update, the 2026/2027 Product Guide is Pentland Wholesale’s most comprehensive collection to date. It is designed to help distributors and end-users easily explore the latest technological advances and sustainable solutions shaping the professional kitchen environment. Highlights from the new guide include new, high-efficiency refrigeration models; updated catering equipment; and enhanced warewashing units.

The April price update reflects ongoing fluctuations in raw material costs, global supply chain pressures, and continued investment in product development and operational sustainability. Pentland Wholesale remains focused on ensuring price stability wherever possible and continues to offer exceptional long‑term value, service support, and robust product warranties. The adjustment will allow Pentland Wholesale to continue delivering high‑performing, energy‑efficient equipment across own brands Blizzard and KoldBox, and across the other brands they sell, while maintaining the level of service and technical support that distributors and end‑users expect from Pentland Wholesale.

Download the 2026/2027 here, with physical copies available on request from the sales team.

Tricon Foodservice Consultants is pleased to confirm that Ben Ho and Mildred Famero will be joining the Tricon Asia Pacific team as Eminent Foodservice Design’s operations merge into Tricon’s Singapore APAC offices.

Over many years, Eminent has built a strong reputation for disciplined technical delivery and regional project execution. This merger brings significant local foodservice design expertise into the Tricon regional APAC office and reinforces Tricon’s long-term commitment to development in the region. The merger delivers greater alignment, scale and support locally within Tricon’s broader structure globally, while enhancing the continuity of expertise and relationships that its clients value.

Mike Coldicott, CEO of Tricon Foodservice Consultants, commented, “Bringing Ben and Mildred into Tricon, alongside the integration of Eminent’s workstream, is an important step for our Asia Pacific growth. Their technical capability and regional experience are well proven. Aligning that strength within Tricon’s global presence allows us to scale responsibly and deliver even greater value to our clients.”

Ben Ho added, “I’m thankful for the journey that has brought us to this point. Eminent was built with care, hard work and faith in doing things properly. Merging into Tricon gives us further reach to continue serving our clients at the high level we’re committed to.”

Mildred Famero commented, “Our focus has always been on delivery. Joining Tricon gives us the support and framework to operate at another level, with the backing of a broader global team. I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”

This merger marks the next step in Tricon’s continued evolution in Asia Pacific. Since its founding in the UK 44 years ago, and most recently celebrating 20 years of operation in Dubai, Tricon has built its reputation on specialist foodservice design expertise delivered at global scale to some of the most influential F&B/hospitality clients across the world.

Across Asia Pacific, the Tricon business is already active in seven countries, supporting projects spanning hotels, corporate workplaces, education campuses, and leisure destinations. The addition of Ben and Mildred strengthens that regional foundation further and reflects a deliberate investment in long-term local capability, ensuring that Tricon’s growth in Asia is underpinned by proven technical depth and disciplined delivery.

Rational, the leader in professional cooking systems, is delighted to unveil its Easter Giveaway campaign, created to support chefs and foodservice teams after one of the industry’s busiest periods.

This Easter, chefs and operators have the chance to win an exclusive Easter Service Survival Kit, packed with practical tools and premium Rational chef‑essentials. The winner will also receive a £200 Michelin‑star meal voucher – the perfect way to reward yourself after a demanding service period.

Easter brings intense pressure for chefs, schools, hotels, caterers and foodservice teams alike. That’s why Rational is offering a little post-rush boost with a giveaway built to make any future challenges just that bit easier.

How to enter:

• Fill in the short form with your details via RATIONAL AG
• Tell us what your biggest Easter challenge is.
• Hit submit — and you’ll be entered into the prize draw!

Entries close at 23:59pm on Wednesday 8 April, and the lucky winner will be announced shortly after.

Full terms and conditions apply.

The simple way to measure utilities usage with Sicotronic

Ki-Tech Solutions & Innovations are pleased to announce the launch of their comprehensive utilities monitoring and management dashboard for ceda members.

A fully integrated monitoring system to effectively capture electric, gas and water usage levels, actual cost-in-use and operational carbon data, with an intuitive dashboard to provide individual appliance and site recording with expansion available to measure and compare site performance across an estate.

The most cost-effective way to measure energy usage in a commercial kitchen environment, giving the operator the insights necessary to make better decisions and optimize equipment use, the system can be complemented with additional functions such as temperature monitoring, door sensors and much more.

Conduct an energy study and capture utilities consumption with complete confidence complete with a CO² statement of usage.

Contact us today:
connectwithus@wearekitech.co.uk
03300 552779

Novameta is introducing Multi Cold, a new refrigeration concept developed to give professional kitchens greater flexibility, better space efficiency, and solutions tailored to specific operational needs.

Designed for modern foodservice environments, Multi Cold is not limited to one fixed format. Instead, it enables refrigerated solutions to be developed in a wide range of sizes, dimensions, and configurations, depending on the customer’s workflow and kitchen layout. From stand-alone refrigerated cabinets to double-sided Cooling Counters, pass-through units, and other tailor-made formats, Multi Cold is built around the real needs of the operator.

The concept is suitable for a wide range of professional kitchen environments, from quick-service restaurants to other foodservice operations that require flexible, tailored refrigeration solutions. Depending on the project, Multi Cold can integrate different elements and accessories into one refrigerated unit, allowing the solution to be adapted to specific workflows, service concepts, and operational needs.

For more information email: valdas@novameta.lt

In 2026, RATIONAL will celebrate two milestones: 50 years ago, the global market and technology leader in thermal food preparation launched its first combi oven. Combining heat and steam in one unit has fundamentally changed the way professional kitchens work. The 1.5 millionth combi oven rolled off the production line just in time for this occasion. The anniversary unit, which features a golden dial, was handed over to the St. Nikolaus Children’s Hospice in Bad Grönenbach at the beginning of February.

RATIONAL presented its first combi oven, the CD 101, in 1976 — three years after the company was founded by Siegfried Meister. The combination of steam and convection enabled chefs to use a variety of cooking methods, such as roasting, baking and steaming, with just one appliance for the first time. Four years later came the CD 201, the first floor-standing combi oven to meet the demands of large kitchens with high production volumes.

This laid the foundation for five decades of continuous development, from the introduction of the ClimaPlus Combi (1997), the first combi oven with precise climate control, to the SelfCookingCenter (2004), which could adjust settings automatically, to the iCombi Pro (2020), which achieves the desired result automatically at the touch of a button. Each generation has introduced innovations that continue to make working in professional kitchens easier, more efficient and more sustainable.

The clear goal behind all these developments has always been to offer customers the best appliance for cooking. “Thanks to our high production volumes, we are able to achieve a high degree of automation in manufacturing and assembly and to use technologies that are far from standard in our industry. This ensures that every unit meets the exceptional quality and durability our customers expect,” says Martin Hermann, Chief Technical Officer at RATIONAL. Profit maximisation is not the company’s priority; instead, RATIONAL focuses on maximising customer benefit – a principle firmly rooted in the corporate culture through the ‘bottleneck-concentrated strategy’. The numbers show that this strategy continues to work: around 50% global market share, around 180 million meals prepared daily in RATIONAL appliances and, just in time for the 50th birthday, 1.5 million combi ovens produced.

“50 years of RATIONAL combi ovens and 1.5 million units are not just figures; they are an expression of the high level of satisfaction and trust that our customers have placed in us worldwide for decades. We’re proud of that. It motivates us to continue prioritising customer benefit in the future,” says Markus Paschmann, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at RATIONAL.

In early February, the anniversary unit featuring a gold-coloured control dial was presented by Markus Paschmann and Martin Hermann to the St. Nikolaus Children’s Hospice in Bad Grönenbach, where children with life-limiting illnesses and their families receive comprehensive support throughout the stages of illness, end of life and bereavement. RATIONAL deliberately chose to donate this special anniversary model to a place where invaluable work is carried out for families every day – and where freshly cooked, delicious meals help create a sense of normalcy. “We are extremely grateful for this gift,” says Marlies Breher, Chairwoman of the Süddeutsche Kinderhospiz Foundation. “It helps us reliably make a small but meaningful part of the day possible.”

For more information, go to rational-online.com

Rational, the global leader in hot food preparation technology, will showcase its latest innovations at Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering Show, taking place 30 March – 1st April 2026 at ExCeL London.

Visitors to Stand S210 will be able to experience the cooking systems shaping professional kitchens today and tomorrow. The iCombi Pro combi oven remains an essential part of modern operations, while the versatile iVario Pro technogically advanced bratt ban shows how much more efficient and flexible a kitchen can be when multifunctional technology is put to work. Looking ahead, the iHexagon will also be on demonstration, bringing together steam, hot air, and microwave technology in a single unit to deliver even faster, high‑quality results, offering a glimpse of what the future of cooking will look like.

In addition, Rational will highlight ConnectedCooking, its digital platform that simplifies kitchen management, enhances workflow visibility, and ensures seamless connectivity across all compatible devices.

Arena Shows: An Exclusive Culinary Experience

Throughout HRC, Rational will host a series of exclusive Arena Shows, giving visitors a close-up view of how its intelligent cooking systems perform in real-service environments. With only 15 seats available per session, these demonstrations offer the chance to watch Rational expert chefs prepare dishes live, enjoy freshly cooked samples, and gain practical insights into enhancing kitchen efficiency, speed, and consistency.

Demonstrations include the iVario Pro and iCombi Pro, along with a new addition to the Arena experience: sessions showcasing the iHexagon. Taking place on Tuesday 31 March is a special demonstration by Simon Rogan MBE, Rational Ambassador and Chef/Owner of L’Enclume. Visitors to the Arena will have the opportunity to see and sample dishes from Simon, the award-winning chef and restaurateur.

Visitors are encouraged to secure their place in these popular demonstrations by registering at:

HRC 2026 Registration | RATIONAL

Rational invites all HRC attendees to visit Stand S210 to see these technologies in action. From hands‑on demonstrations to expert advice, this is a chance to discover the future of cooking with Rational and how the appliances transform kitchen operations alongside consistent, reliable results.

Classeq launches Wi-Fi connectivity across its full range of dishwashers, glasswashers and utensil washers with the introduction of Clean Connect.

Designed to bring greater control, visibility and simplicity to high-volume warewashing environments, Clean Connect enables operators to remotely monitor their machines through a single online portal – providing real-time insight without needing to be on site.

In busy professional kitchens and bars, warewashing is mission-critical. When machines perform, service runs seamlessly. When they don’t, disruption is immediate. Clean Connect gives operators instant visibility of performance, usage and maintenance requirements – helping teams protect wash quality, drive efficiency and avoid unnecessary downtime.

Wi-Fi connectivity and access to the Clean Connect portal is available at no extra cost across Classeq’s full warewashing range*, delivering measurable benefits across multiple areas:

Quality wash results:
Regular cleaning is essential for consistent wash quality and long-term machine performance. Clean Connect allows operators to check whether drain down, refresh and deep-clean cycles are being completed correctly, helping maintain standards across every shift and site.

Energy efficiency:
By comparing operating hours with powered hours, customers can identify unnecessary energy consumption and adjust usage patterns accordingly – driving smarter, more cost-effective operations.

Hard water management:
Limescale build-up remains one of the most common causes of machine failure. Clean Connect enables operators to monitor cycles completed without salt and proactively prompt teams to refill – protecting machines and avoiding costly repairs.

Preventative maintenance:
Like mileage on a vehicle, wash cycles accumulate over time. Clean Connect allows servicing to be scheduled based on real usage data rather than fixed time intervals, supporting preventative maintenance strategies that maximise lifespan and reliability.

Multi-site visibility:
From single-location operators to national estates, Clean Connect enables customers to monitor machine status across multiple sites within one simple dashboard, with the ability to drill down into individual machine data as required.

Multiple machines, one portal:
Even smaller venues often run separate machines in kitchen and bar areas. Clean Connect enables managers to oversee both from one interface. Scale this across hotels, stadia, universities or contract catering operations, and the operational value increases significantly.

Service, rental and leasing support:
For customers working with service partners, rental agreements or leasing models, Clean Connect enables wash cycle tracking, smarter servicing schedules and improved asset management – benefiting operators and suppliers alike.

Made in Britain, Next Day Delivery, Two Year Warranty
Wi-Fi connectivity and Clean Connect adds value, but it isn’t about complexity it’s about simplicity, and ease of visibility.

Every machine will continue to deliver great results with or without a Wi-Fi connection, just like every machine continues to be built in Staffordshire, available with next working day delivery and a two-year warranty as standard.

Clean Connect helps operators maintain standards, support their teams and maximise the performance and lifespan of their equipment.

To find out more or request a demonstration, visit: www.classeq.co.uk/clean-connect

*Wi-Fi connectivity is available on all models manufactured after the 1st February 2026. The Classeq Bluetooth App is required for Wi-Fi set-up.