Tech Talk

The Winners

Check out these innovative products you’ll start seeing everywhere. Even in your kitchen.

Who doesn’t like a shiny new toy? Whether that’s a new sports car, drone or, more relevant, something fun for your kitchen, new products always make us happy. And when they can enhance your business? Even better. Each year, the National Restaurant Association Show awards the most innovative products released for the culinary industry. Here, we highlight some products and machinery that could enhance your kitchen experience and productivity.

AXCESS 2000.H Pick-Up Station by Apex Supply Chain Technologies

If you do a robust take-out business, this may be your new favorite toy. Designed in connection with Little Caesars, this unit, a first for the industry, keeps packaged to-go food hot and ready for take away. This two-sided unit has a flow-through design, allowing for easier loading for restaurant employees. So, when customers arrive, after receiving a text or email their order is ready, they enter a unique code, grab their food and go without worry it’s been sitting on a counter getting cold. It’s made for pizzas, chicken, ribs and other full-meal orders.

SinkTech by Chicago Bar Shop

Ever wonder if your three-sink bar system needs cleaning? Now you don’t have to as SinkTech by Chicago Bar Shop answers the question for you. This new behind-the-bar, plug-and-play technology senses when water temperature needs regulating and can add more soap and sanitizer. It keeps track of water usage and automatically can order more cleaning solutions as they get low. It reportedly uses less water than a traditional dishwasher, saving you money.

MODwater by Hoshizaki

Still, sparkling or tap? Now you don’t have to necessarily stock multiple bottles of expensive waters, but instead can install the small MODwater. This tankless space-saving unit dispenses four kinds of water—sparkling, chilled, hot and alkaline—giving even more options to your customers. The patented carbonation technology serves up to 20 gallons of sparkling water per hour.

Versatile Chef Station by Vulcan

Whether you have a massive kitchen or are starved of space, you can save money by reducing the number of machines you have to buy. Vulcan’s multi-function cooktop allows for more functionality in one unit to braise, boil, sauté, sear, simmer, steam, shallow fry, re-therm and more. Less machinery also means less to clean, saving time at the end of each shift.