With a 2006 marked by breakthrough sales and name recognition now in the books, Aga Foodservice Equipment's Infinity Fryers is facing the challenge. Aga Foodservice Equipment's Infinity Fryers is now facing a new challenge. This year, Infinity will focus on educating customers and channel partners about its products' ability to prepare more healthful fried foods, as well as cut energy and oil use.

    "One of the properties of Infinity fryers' design is that the combination of a patented heat exchanger, pre-mix burners and a narrow, flat-bottomed fry pot works to prevent oxidation in cooking oil," explained Mitch Cohen, VP of Cooking Systems Sales for Infinity (as well as Stellar Steam and Eloma combi ovens). "In addition to extending oil life, preventing oil oxidation delays and, in Infinity's case, actually reduces the formation of free fatty acids [trans fats] in the oil and fried foods, resulting in more healthful products."

    Cohen added that marketing and education will be key tools in communicating Infinity's trans fat-fighting message to the industry. To this end, Infinity has continued to expand its rep network. And, to help AFE hot-side reps be best prepared to present Infinity's ENERGY STAR®, cost-cutting and healthful preparation benefits, special training sessions were held in January in Chicago.

    "We invited all of our reps to our new test kitchen and education center so we could share with them the latest information on the features, advantages and value propositions Infinity fryers and its sister companies have to offer," Cohen noted. "The training session also provided the first opportunity for our new corporate chefs, Mike Nicholson and Steve Goellner, to present equipment demonstrations and their culinary perspectives about Infinity fryers' performance to our reps. I think this experience has helped our sales team become better informed and more effective advocates for Infinity's products."

    The most essential challenge Infinity will work to overcome this year, in Cohen's view, will be to strengthen the perceived association between end-users' most pressing operational needs and the attributes of the company's equipment. "It is becoming increasingly clear that health issues, including healthful food prep and healthful eating, are joining energy and cost savings as key issues in both commercial and noncommercial markets," Cohen related. "We will do everything we can in the months ahead to build awareness among noncommercial and chain operators of the leadership Infinity provides in all of these areas."

For more information, visit Infinity Fryer's web site at www.infinityfryers.com