The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal Department of Energy (DOE) have recognized Victory Refrigeration as a 2006 Energy Star Manufacturing Partner, due to the company's proven record of producing the most energy-efficient equipment in the refrigeration category. Victory was also the first foodservice equipment manufacturer in Energy Star's 14-year history to be selected for a Manufacturing Partner award as a result of its promotion of energy-efficient foodservice operations and energy-education efforts targeted at consultants, operators, dealers and reps.

More than 480 Victory refrigerator and freezer models have now earned Energy Star tier 1 or tier 2 ratings, more than all other foodservice refrigeration manufacturers combined. Victory has further made energy savings the centerpiece of its V2E campaign, which pledges to end-users that the company will provide products with better coverage (via an exclusive 2-year standard warranty), better build-quality for more reliable operation and low-energy-use performance that can save them hundreds of dollars every year and reduce demand for fossil fuels.

Representatives from Victory and Aga Foodservice will accept the company's Energy Star Partner award at a ceremonial banquet held on March 21st in Washington, DC. At that time, Victory will join such past Manufacturing Partner award recipients as GE, Canon USA, Lennox Industries, Sylvania and Whirlpool in the ranks of Energy Star honorees. The EPA's recognition of Victory's contribution to environmentally positive product performance will also entitle the company to display the 2006 Energy Star Partner logo on all its equipment. EPA's efforts to publicize the accomplishments of Victory and all its other Energy Star award winners will further include the creation of a public service advertisement that will be published this spring in major U.S. business and consumer magazines.

"Manufacturing partners such as Victory Refrigeration are vital to improving efficiencies across the country," remarked Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships division. "We acknowledge companies such as Victory for the outstanding efforts they've made to give end-users the option of choosing energy-efficient products and educating them about the benefits these products provide to the environment."

"All of us at Victory are extremely proud to have earned this national recognition," noted mark Whalen, president of the company and the Aga Foodservice Equipment division. "Members of all of our departments have worked hard and cooperatively to develop refrigeration equipment reliable enough to deliver class-leading energy savings year after year."

Iain J. Whyte, president of Aga Foodservice, commented, "We feel that the Energy Star Manufacturing Partner award further certifies the commitment made by Victory and all of our companies to helping our customers reduce energy use, thereby cutting costs, pollution and demand for non-renewable resources. Now, we're calling on operators in every foodservice market to become more proactive about purchasing the most energy-efficient equipment in each category, and to base those purchases on equipment's life-cycle costs, rather than the initial outlay.

"Manufacturing products that earn Energy Star ratings is good for our customers and the environment," Whyte stressed. "Our goal now is to earn additional Energy Star ratings for more types of equipment across our product lines and to increase our involvement in environmentally responsible manufacturing. We see that as simply good business and good stewardship."

Winners of the Energy Star Partner of the Year awards are selected from among the 1,500 manufacturers and retailers who participate in the program. Since the program began in 1992, Americans have purchased some two billion Energy Star-rated products.

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