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Commercial Food Equipment: Raising the Bar in Grocery Retailing

24 July 2020

Grocery retailing levels up for Ritchies Dromana

Ritchies Dromana has had an upmarket makeover, with the local supermarket being the first of a new grocery retailing concept for the Ritchies brand, and includes artisan bread, hand-rolled sushi, dry-aged beef, specialist cheeses and a huge take-home (reheat and eat) and hot food offer including roast meats, fried chicken, seafood and baked potatoes.

Much of the produce and products are sourced locally or produced on site, including freshly squeezed juice, freshly ground peanut butter and even fresh popped popcorn.

The store has been completely re-designed and refurbished to accommodate the new gourmet offer. Visiting chefs have also been employed to conduct live cooking demonstrations to add some extra theatre and ambience to the store.

The new format is paying dividends too, with sales up 50 percent on the same time last year. Meris supplied the commercial food equipment for this new concept, including Perfect Fryers in the Deli and Sushi Bar and a King Edward Potato oven.

 

commercial food equipment
commercial food equipment
commercial food equipment
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About The Author

Michael Brick is a Partner & General Manager at Meris Food Equipment. For over 20 years he has helped food-to-go businesses boost sales and profitability by introducing innovative food concepts. His passion lies in creating a holistic solution, focusing not just on the right equipment (like Perfect Fryers or Flexeserve displays) but also on perfecting the menu, packaging, and in-store processes for increased sales, basket value, and food traffic.

What Our Clients Say

We have benefited greatly from the individual temperature-controlled shelves, allowing us to hold food at the perfect temperature

“The benefits of the Flexeserve are as promised. We have benefited greatly from the individual temperature-controlled shelves, allowing us to hold food at the perfect temperature, preserving its freshness and increasing the variety of food items we offer, meeting peak mealtimes throughout the day.”

– Clinton & Tanya Loftus, IGA Busselton

We went from $600 to now $5,000 in food a week!

“If you’re not in hot food now, you are 5 years behind. Just go for it and dip your toe in, remember you don’t have to do everything all at once.

We went from $600 to now $5,000 in food a week!”

– John Blazely, Store Owner & Operator, Shell Service Station, Colac

We have benefited greatly from the individual temperature-controlled shelves, allowing us to hold food at the perfect temperature

“The benefits of the Flexeserve are as promised. We have benefited greatly from the individual temperature-controlled shelves, allowing us to hold food at the perfect temperature, preserving its freshness and increasing the variety of food items we offer, meeting peak mealtimes throughout the day.”

– Clinton & Tanya Loftus, IGA Busselton

Country Grocers & Liquor Ballan

Sales increased by a staggering 41%. With year-on-year sales up by 81%

Sales increased by a staggering 41%. With year-on-year sales up by 81%

“The results were almost immediate. Within 2 months, sales were up by 37%. In just six months, sales increased by a staggering 41%. With year-on-year sales up by 81%”.

– Ashlee Plucke, Store Manager, Country Grocers & Liquor Ballan

FoodWorks

“When we were looking to purchase a heated merchandiser for our chickens and hot food, we got a quote on the Flexeserve from Meris as well as an alternate unit from another supplier. The Flexeserve® was more expensive, so we went with the other unit. From day one of installing the other unit we had a myriad of issues.

After three months of this and an inability for anyone to be able to fix it, we re-approached Meris about the Flexeserve® unit, and they helped us out. The Flexeserve has done all the things they told us it would, and we have not had an issue. Clearly, you get what you pay for, and the Flexeserve® is worth it”

Shane Cantania - FoodWorks
Country Grocers & Liquor Ballan

“Our previous hot food display was too hot to touch and was melting the food packaging. The harsh heat was drying the food out, which was limiting shelf life and leading to more food wastage.

With Flexeserve, the results were almost immediate. Within 2 months, sales were up by 37%. In just six months, sales increased by a staggering 41%. With year-on-year sales up by 81%. ”

Ashlee Plucke, Store Manager - Country Grocers & Liquor Ballan

“The FlashGrill is so good.

Always such an even cook. Never have to worry about re-heating, it’s always at temp.

Super easy to clean and nothing ever sticks.

We cover the plate with 30 frozen burgers, cook them, then add another 30 straight away with no change in cooking time between the first lot and the second and get the same great result. It’s really impressive”

Katrina Sanderson, Food Operations Manager - Bowser Bean and Vantage Fuels

It enhances flavours by cooking at low temperatures.

“FlashGRILL completes any food. It enhances flavours by cooking at low temperatures. It can perfectly caramelise and grill the products. It is great for white meat and fish. It is very satisfying to cook different kinds of meats and ensuring clients can fully perceive the differences in tastes due to the specific flavour of each product being preserved.”

Chef Francesco di Maria, - LA FIORENTINA Ristorante-Pasticceria Roma - Italy

“Since I have had the possibility to cook at lower temperatures, meat does not stiffen or burn. It remains evenly cooked and intact, and enhances flavour. Thanks to FlashGRILL, which keeps the temperature even on the full cooking surface, I managed to optimise cooking in my work kitchen. I also use the CLOCHE every day. Thanks to it, I obtain great results with meat and fish, like tuna. I am extremely satisfied.”

Chef Diego Asara, - GINGER SAPORI E SALUTE Roma - RM
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