Best in Class Reports

For 17 years, FE&S published the results of Best in Class surveys, naming the top brands as named by readers.

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2017 Best in Class Awards Overall

Foodservice operators, dealers and consultants rank the top foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers.

Achieving best–in-class status means excelling in key areas, it means reaching beyond the benchmark and, ultimately, it means the industry recognizes the effort. It's a desirable club.

FE&S' annual Best in Class Study identifies those foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers that earn the right to join the club. Our exclusive research stems from the seven critical characteristics that impact purchasing decisions for operators, dealers
and consultants:

  • Product quality
  • Product value
  • Product design and aesthetics
  • Service and support
  • Sales representation
  • Product inventory and availability
  • Product information availability

Survey participants prioritize the above factors in order of importance, then rate individual factories they work with for a given product category on these attributes. Our research team then combines the individual results with those from other participants from the category to create a composite score and identify those manufacturers that the readers of FE&S feel are Best in Class.

The following pages detail the results* of FE&S' 2017 Best in Class Study and highlight those factories that establish the benchmark for understanding and meeting the needs of the entire distribution channel. Congratulations to those earning recognition as Best in Class.

*In some instances, among the specific audience segments, the data proved inconclusive. When that was the case, no winner was declared.

 Here we proudly present the winners from our 2017 study.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT Category Winner
Blast Chillers Traulsen
Braising Pans/Tilting Skillets Cleveland
Charbroilers Vulcan
Chef Counters — Prefabricated Delfield
Combi Ovens Alto-Shaam
Convection Ovens Blodgett
Conveyor Ovens Lincoln
Cook and Hold Ovens Alto-Shaam
Custom Stainless Steel Fabrication Advance Tabco
Deck Ovens Blodgett
Dishwashers/Warewashers Hobart
Floor Mixers Hobart
Freestanding Floor Fryers Pitco
Hot Food Holding Equipment Hatco
Ice Makers Manitowoc Ice
Ranges — Gas and Electric Vulcan
Refrigerated Prep Tables True Manufacturing
Steamers Cleveland
Steam-Jacketed Kettles Cleveland
Upright Reach-In Refrigeration True Manufacturing
Ventilation Systems CaptiveAire
Walk-In Refrigeration Thermo-Kool
LIGHT EQUIPMENT Category Winner
Beverage Blenders Vitamix
Coffee Brewers Bunn-O-Matic
Conveyor Toasters Hatco
Countertop Griddles Vulcan
Disposers InSinkErator
Electric Food Processors Robot Coupe
Electric Slicers Hobart
Heat Lamps Hatco
High-Speed Ovens TurboChef
Induction Cooktops CookTek
Manual Food Choppers Vollrath
Microwave Ovens Amana
Parts and Accessories Franklin Machine Products
Scales Edlund Company
Shelving Metro
Sinks — Prefabricated Advance Tabco
Underbar Fabrication Perlick
Underbar Refrigeration True Manufacturing
Worktables — Prefabricated Advance Tabco
SMALLWARES Category Winner
Cookware Vollrath
Cutlery Dexter-Russell
Food Storage Containers Cambro
Tabletop and Buffet Serving Accessories Vollrath
Thermometers/Sensors Taylor Precision Products