New Products Grab Attention at The NAFEM Show

One of the reasons I like attending The NAFEM Show is the simple fact that much of the focus centers around the products on display and not golf or most any other distractions. Indeed, for two days, the show floor becomes the epicenter of the foodservice equipment and supplies universe. And this year’s NAFEM show did not disappoint in this regard.

The show seemed to capture its old slogan of “If it’s new, it’s at NAFEM.” Show organizers did an excellent job of this with their “What’s Hot! What’s Cool!” section of the show floor. This area featured roughly 80 different pieces of foodservice equipment from various manufacturers. According to NAFEM, the foodservice equipment and supplies displayed here had to address at least three of the following criteria:

• New product: Introduces a unique concept or application that provides tangible operator benefits such as eco-friendly/energy efficiency, food safety, labor savings, reduced footprint, etc.

• Existing product update: Significantly improves a standard function or practice that provides tangible operator benefits such as eco-friendly/energy efficiency, food safety, labor savings, reduced footprint, etc.

• New foodservice application: Creates or expands potential foodservice opportunities by offering the operator ways to open market segments or day parts, offer new menu items and streamline service/delivery.

• Cost reduction: Lowers operator overhead through attributes such as automation, energy efficiency, life cycle costing, multi-use, or incorporates unique materials and/or manufacturing processes to reduce expenses.

• Aesthetic impact: Enables the operator to provide the ultimate consumer a quality food or beverage product that delights the senses through sight, smell, sound, taste, touch or enhanced experience through an innovative equipment and solutions application.

The way the products were arranged in this section had the feel of some hip or trendy kind of new foodservice museum. Attendees were able to roam the area freely and explore the products on their own. A sign hanging near each exhibit provided a brief description of the item on display and listed the manufacturer’s name and booth number, which allowed attendees to seek more information if they so desired.

In addition to this section, I also found countless other manufacturers who had new products on display in their individual booths. The items I saw first-hand ranged from a prototype for a sous vide machine to some interesting water treatment products that actually save money to a piece of refrigeration equipment that actually maintains its internal temperature even if the door was left open for more than seven hours.

Clearly, there were ample opportunities to see new products and those dealers, operators and consultants attending The NAFEM Show benefited by the research and development efforts the participating factories put forth prior to the economic downturn.

Did you see any products that caught your eye? Or was there something missing from the show that you would have liked to have seen? I am anxious to hear your thoughts. Feel free to add a comment to this post or shoot me an e-mail at joseph.carbonara@reedbusiness.com.