MPM Food Equipment Group Announces Major Office and Warehouse Expansion

Commercial food equipment distributor purchases 48,000-square-foot facility in Wheeling, Illinois

Wheeling, Ill. — MPM Food Equipment Group announced the opening of its new 48,000-square-foot warehouse and office space complex at 236 Egidi Drive in Wheeling, Ill., adding 38,000 square feet because of its steady growth over the past decade. The warehouse space is four times the square footage that MPM had at its old facility.

“The expansion of the capacity for MPM demonstrates our ongoing commitment to world class service and unparalleled support to our clients,” said Larry Nicholson, CEO of MPM Food Equipment Group. “With the efficiencies and economies of scale that the facility provides to MPM, we are also able to continue our pledge of competitive pricing as well. Our showroom will display some of the more than 150 high-quality manufacturers we represent, notably the PizzaMaster pizza ovens and the Citrocasa juicers.”

MPM is the exclusive North American distributor for PizzaMaster pizza ovens, which bake faster and more evenly than other types of pizza ovens. And MPM is the Midwest and Northeast distributor of Citrocasa, the fastest, most efficient juicers for on-demand juicing needs.

MPM is well known in the retail food-service industry for providing a unique service: receiving and staging all of the client’s equipment at their warehouse, then delivering it to the project site uncrated and assembled. Not only does this save the client time and money, it takes the burden from the client of having to accept and store equipment from multiple manufacturers delivered on different days or weeks.

The new warehouse will have space to organize and layout all of current projects into their own designated staging areas, giving the team the ability to complete more work while moving less equipment.

“The Wheeling location offered so many advantages that we welcomed the opportunity to continue to expand the business,” Nicholson said.

About MPM Food Equipment Group (MPMFEG)

Founded in 2003, MPM Food Equipment Group – a private food retail, foodservice, and weighing equipment and supplies dealership – offers the highest quality food equipment and design services while providing the best customer service in the industry. Its customers range from large national grocery chains to family-owned restaurants.

The company works closely with each customer every step of the way, from the planning stages to grand openings. MPMFEG works with the industry’s leading manufacturers to ensure their clients the widest selection of products to meet their specific needs. MPMFEG’s paramount goal is to help customers become more competitive and profitable in the marketplace. For further information, visit http://www.mpmfeg.com/

MPM Helps Big Y Open in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

MPM Food Equipment Group partnered with Big Y in August 2014 to open Big Y’s 67th store, a 54,300-foot facility in Old Saybrook, Conn. Big Y – a family-owned and family-oriented retail food company – has been working with MPM’s Vice President of Sales Ed Wiernasz for more than 20 years.

Big Y Foods in Old Saybrook, Conn. on Opening Day - MPM Food Equipment Group

Big Y engaged MPM to deliver the equipment and training necessary to fulfill the lifestyle needs of the Old Saybrook community – providing not only grocery but prepared foods. As part of this mission, Big Y ordered a Fri-Jado Multisserie, to provide up to up to 210 pounds of rotisserie chicken per cooking cycle.

One of the glass doors on the Multisserie shattered less than a week before the opening, but within a day MPM was able to get a new glass door, replace it, and get the Big Y team back in business to prepare for the store opening.

Additional Equipment Highlights

In addition to the Fri-Jado Multisserie, MPM delivered to Big Y an Alto-Shaam combi oven, refrigeration equipment from Leer, donut makeup equipment from Belshaw and food-processing equipment from Omcan.

But sourcing and delivering equipment is just part of the job. MPM also provided the startup and training, as well as standing by for Opening Day and subsequent follow up to ensure that there were no issues.

In part by working with MPM and using our offerings of energy-efficient products, Big Y was able to take advantage of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Program that will reduce electrical consumption by more than 550,000 kilowatt hours per year, an equivalent to removing 80 cars off the road annually or providing electricity for 52 homes.

Visit MPM Food Equipment Group  to discover our one-stop shopping for food-service equipment, products and design services.

MPM Opens a Caputo’s Market in Downers Grove

MPM Food Equipment Group worked with Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, a local Chicago grocery chain, to open its seventh store, a converted Dominick’s in Downers Grove. MPM was able to develop a solution that incorporated existing equipment with reconditioned and new pieces to complete the store in a truncated time frame.

Angelo Caputo in the new Downers Grove store (picture from Caputo's).

 The equipment highlights include:

• Pizza Master Pizza Oven
• Crepe Station
• Remanufactured Hussmann Deli Case
• Hot Foods Bar
• Cold Foods Bar

With a heavy emphasis on prepared foods, Caputos can offer their customers a wide scope of product, including:

• a variety of thin and deep dish pizzas
• a burrito station
• sandwiches
• ribs and chicken
• juice bar
• coffee bar

Caputo’s is a long-time Chicago-area institution – a fresh market business started in 1958 in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Starting with a second location in 1991, Caputo has slowly opened additional stores and now opened its seventh, the 72,000-square-foot space, at 42 Ogden Road in Downers Grove.

The new store includes “Bar Angelo,” a full-service restaurant and bar that serves beer and wine along with menu items such as steak and fish. It also includes a kiosk system, which allows customers to browse the store's deli offerings, place an order and continue with the rest of their shopping while it is filled.

Are you browsing for the best solutions in the food equipment business? MPM Food Equipment Group deliver projects on time and on budget, while providing world class service, unparalleled support, and competitive pricing. For more information, visit MPM at http://www.mpmfeg.com/ or call 1-800-976-6762.

The PizzaMaster pizza oven makes its first batch of pizzas at the new Caputo's in Downers Grove (picture from Caputo's).

The Caputos' team (picture from Caputos).

MPM Adds Cooking Equip to CH Distillery

MPM worked with CH Distillery to allow its patrons sample the spirits made on site by building Chicago’s only distillery cocktail bar. MPM installed the bar and the cooking equipment! (Photo by Arnold Klein)

So after the distillery tour, instead of a little sample in a plastic cup, patrons are able to have cocktails and bar food. In fact, the kitchen really worked out for CH Distillery – it was named as one of the best new restaurants in Chicago by Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/31/best-new-restaurants-chic_n_4519992.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Here is another review in Serious Eats:

http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/09/first-look-ch-distillery-cocktails-from-grain-to-glass-local-gin-vodka-bar.html

If you would like to find out how MPM can help you with your commercial kitchen needs, contact us at info@mpmfeg.com today.

MPM Supplies Equip for Howells and Hood

MPM worked with restaurant group Bottleneck Management to source and supply the equipment for Howells & Hood, a 17,000-square foot restaurant in Chicago’s Tribune Tower that features two extra-large cook lines and a prep line, three bars (each with 120 faucets that pull beer from an enormous beer cooler), and three walk-in coolers.

MPM sourced and supplied the equipment for three kitchens and three bars, as well as building three walk-in coolers. One of those coolers is a glassed-in beer cooler holding 720 barrels of beer that supply 360 draft faucets – 120 each in the three bars.

 “We installed the largest draft beer system in any restaurant in the world to our knowledge,” said Jason Akemann, co-owner of Bottleneck Management, “and MPM was there for us every step of the way. They were able to guide us to not only the right cooler that not only was large enough to house the beers but efficient enough to make it run. Our system holds 720 barrels for 320 pour faucets with 114 different beers. And with their recommendation, it is all working seamlessly.”

If you are interested in learning how MPM can help you install professional cooking equipment, contact us at info@mpmfeg.com.

MPM Food Equipment Group Celebrates a Decade as a Leader in Food Equipment

Strong Service Culture and Outstanding Employees
Create Foundation for Growth

Northbrook, Ill.–MPM Food Equipment Group celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013, growing from a startup regional food equipment dealer to a national and international independent distributor that is the food service and supermarket industry’s sales and service leader.

“I started the business in 2003 with a vision that MPMFEG would provide unparalleled service to its customers with very competitive pricing,” said MPMFEG Founder and President Larry Nicholson. “The great associates at the company have helped me develop a culture of responsiveness, which guides us and promotes our growth.”

“’Service’ is a word with many meanings,” said Paul Krueger, Director of Sales – Retail. “To most, it congers up the thought of a technician holding a tool. But real service begins before the equipment is ever purchased. This is where MPM shines. We listen to and work with our customers to choose the best piece of equipment to suit their needs.”

The company’s growth over the years has enabled MPMFEG to offer a rare asset in food retail and food service: the capability to receive and stage all of a customer’s equipment on-site at its large warehouse, and then uncrate, deliver, assemble, startup and train – all as part of the process.

“When MPM makes a sale, that is just the beginning,” Krueger said. “We become partners with our clients. Equipment purchased from MPM doesn’t arrive at the client’s location as just another box or crate, it arrives ready to be pushed into place, ready to be installed, to conduct training, and to be used. And that’s not the end of our commitment. We remain partners after the fact. Often, we become advocates when issues arise with service companies and factories, if our customers are not being treated fairly. This is extra service MPM provides that sets us apart.”

MPMFEG has access to the widest range of quality brands in the industry at great prices. The selection includes Hobart, Revent, Traulsen, American Baking System, Delfield, and Cleveland Range, among others.

“MPMFEG partners with the best service companies, and construction and trades vendors – including carpenters, plumbers, and HVAC, electrical, and gas contractors,” Nicholson said. “With MPM’s extensive industry experience and knowledge, we are able to address every detail of your project with competency and efficiency.”

“MPM takes the time to thoroughly understand the needs of their clients and offer the best possible solution,” David Reeder, National Sales Manager. “That’s why we have been around for 10 years and will be around for many more. We make equipment buying easy!”

There have been plenty of milestones in MPMFEG’s 10 years.   MPMFEG has equiped and serviced some of the largest grocery stores in the world at over75,000 square feet. In January 2013, MPMFEG acquired Connecticut Food and Weighing Equipment of Newington, Conn.

“As part of MPMFEG family, we have the ability to provide our customers with the same level of service they were used to getting,” said Ed Wiernasz, Vice President of MPM-Northeast. “But we now can offer a greater amount of equipment choices, and have the staff back in Chicago to help ensure that the whole process from quoting, ordering and delivery go off without a hitch.”

Also in 2013, at Howells & Hood restaurant in Chicago, MPMFEG “installed the largest draft beer system in any restaurant in the world to our knowledge,” said Jason Akemann, co-owner of Bottleneck Management. “This is our fourth project with MPM [including Sweetwater Tavern, Old Town Pour House, and South Branch Tavern and Grille]. MPM had nothing but solutions for a project where there was nothing but questions.”

“After 10 years,” Nicholson added, “MPMFEG has established itself as unmatched for providing personal attention to our customers, from large national grocery chains to a family-owned restaurant.”

About MPM Food Equipment Group

Representing the finest food equipment manufacturers in the business, MPMFEG teams with a large group of trusted partners to provide support, design, installation, product training and service to deliver projects on time and on budget.

For more information, visit MPMFEG at http://www.mpmfeg.com/ or call 1-800-976-6762.