Not only did Aga Foodservice Equipment's Victory Refrigeration meet or exceed all sales goals and ring up the highest volume month in its more than 40-year history during the past year, the company was also able to improve simultaneously many of its internal fundamentals, according to Victory (and AFE) President Mark Whalen.

    Whalen related that Victory had worked hard to rationalize its product line, axing slower-selling models during '06, for instance, and investing to increase capacity at its Cherry Hill, NJ, factory to accommodate newly created and future demand. "Our primary goal is to lay the foundation for enduring success," he commented, "and one way we're accomplishing this is by executing our sales and marketing strategy more effectively. This involves promoting and adhering to Victory's V2E pledge of more reliable performance, greater energy efficiency and technological superiority."

    Of course, another 2006 highlight for Victory was its recognition by the federal Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR® as a Manufacturing Partner of the Year, making it the first foodservice equipment maker ever to earn this socially significant designation. "We're very proud of this award, but also of the fact that we're incorporating ENERGY STAR's message of environmental responsibility into Victory's corporate culture and the way we present the company's products in the market," Whalen remarked. "We look forward to continuing Victory's support of ENERGY STAR and maintaining our leadership with the most certified models in the refrigeration equipment category."

    Among Whalen's 2007 goals for Victory is to communicate more efficiently to specifiers and operators the manifold ways the company's refrigerators and freezers are better than competitors' and advantageously different. He anticipates that achieving that goal, in part through the timely launch of Victory's redeveloped web site, will help to support continuing sales growth in the years ahead, as well as provide credibility for the new back bar products Victory will be introducing during Q1 of 2007.

    According to Whalen, Victory's full line of back bar equipment, including storage refrigerators and beverage dispensers, will debut no later than next March. "We're also looking at several other product line extensions for Victory in 2007 to meet growing demand, and are seeking a relationship with a global OEM with which we can co-produce certain commodity models," he advised. " Our goals are ambitious as a result of Victory's banner year, but if we continue to improve our internally and externally focused processes, I know we will see a return on our efforts.":

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