The imminent roll-out of a new line of back bar equipment, including direct draw dispensers and sleek, space-saving beverage coolers, is expected to help maintain the sales growth Victory Refrigeration attained throughout 2006. According to Mark Whalen, president of Victory and the Aga Foodservice Equipment division, the new back bar models will come in even-inch increments, provide as much capacity as competitors' larger units and feature a front breathing, works-in-a-drawer refrigeration system that ensures even cooling.

    "We anticipate that these new coolers and dispensers will effectively augment our existing Spot Buy program, as the demand they meet works perfectly to help dealers fill in their orders," Whalen remarked. "Our back bar models will enter the marketplace in March, and we look forward to seeing them as part of Victory floor displays in dealer show rooms around the country. The equipment has a great look and elegance for display applications and the quality and compact dimensions to fit in easily on design-build projects."

    Whalen added that Victory is currently developing additional line extensions for 2007 and has "several other initiatives in the pipeline." Also high on Victory's to-do list this year are continuing its program of productivity improvements in the company's Cherry Hill, NJ, factory and increasing the percentage of component commonality engineered into different models and lines. "Victory is coming along and we have the booked orders to prove it," he emphasized. "However, we're not relying on growing market share alone to keep Victory's sales profitable in 2007, we're also working to increase our manufacturing capacity and productivity."

    In addition to doing more channel and end-user education on the operational advantages of teaming Victory blast chillers with Eloma boilerless combi ovens, Whalen expects to dedicate increasing time to helping differentiate Victory products from competitors' through comparative evaluations of life-cycle costs and performance.

    "What it comes down to for Victory this year is continuing to live up to our V2E pledge of category-leading energy savings, superior build quality and unsurpassed reliability," he affirmed. "That's the message that will help us continue to stand apart."

For more information on ENERGY STAR-qualified Victory models, visit Victory's web site at www.victory-refrig.com