Commercial kitchen equipment is not exactly known as a tech-leading sector! In fact most of the types of products remain staples in the kitchen, year after year. However, 2024 is the year of inflation and rising costs, which is felt in every business, and forces business owners to start considering, if not all-out embracing new technology.
Smart Kitchens are coming in hot, and their adoption in Europe and the USA is already ahead of Australia. This includes the integration of IoT and smart technology for remote monitoring and control. An example is Skope Refrigeration, with its optional automatic food temperature logging systems.
Business owners are concerned more than ever with Energy Efficiency, due to the never-ending rising costs of energy. Eco-friendly equipment, such as FED-X’s Environmentally friendly fridges that use R290-A refrigerant are also up to 30% cheaper to run, so friendly to the environment as well as your back pocket!
New legislation and the phasing out of gas appliances is ushering in a new generation of space-saving equipment for smaller kitchens and food trucks, such as Induction Cooktops and Fryers. Many manufacturers have already started offering these products, while some Australian manufacturers, including Austheat, have been offering these appliances for many years already.
Aside from energy efficient and new electrical products, restaurateurs are also beginning to use new, automated systems for repetitive tasks to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs, such as the RoboChef which can replace a full-time chef in your kitchen! These systems are effectively the next generation of multi-functional equipment, which performs multiple functions to save space and costs. These products include Combi and Conveyor Ovens, which can be used for hundreds of different dishes.