Aga Foodservice Equipment's Infinity Fryers had a brand-establishing year in 2006, posting significant new sales and market share gains in several major operator sectors. Mitch Cohen, VP of Cooking System Sales for Infinity, Stellar Steam and Eloma combi ovens, AFE's three hot-side companies, noted that Infinity's pre-mix gas fryers had increasingly been selected by end-users and specifiers in market segments including college and university foodservices, casual dining and quick-service chains.

    "Many of these new orders were for considerable-sized jobs, involving 10 or more fryers at a time," Cohen confirmed. "We also saw quite an increase during '06 in the number of specifications we received from design consultants and dealer designers. This development tells us that Infinity's value proposition of lower energy costs, increased oil life and faster, more reliable performance is beginning to be recognized across the foodservice industry, though we've still got a long way to go."

    Cohen added that Infinity has already secured excellent prospects for 2007 orders in the college and university segment, thanks to the company's growing reputation among specifiers, an evolution he deemed Infinity's major achievement in 2006. To help Infinity continue to increase its penetration in chain-restaurant sectors, the company will soon be rolling out the services of AFE's two newly hired corporate chefs.

    "Our new culinary representatives, Executive Chef Mike Nicholson, who is based in New York, and Chef Steve Goellner in Chicago, are now starting to meet with chain personnel to provide equipment demonstrations and technical presentations," he commented. "We feel that by adding the education our chefs can offer, the phone reps who will be supporting our field sales force in 2007 and continued print and web marketing, Infinity has excellent opportunities to increase brand recognition further and build on the sales levels we attained in 2006."

    Another way Infinity will make it easier for end-users and specifiers to choose and operate its products will be by introducing a redesign of its fryer cabinets. According to Cohen, this change will make Infinity's model line-up even more accessible for service and friendlier to operate from the front. Look for this upgrade from Infinity by Q3 2007.

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