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.

Citrocasa, the Fastest Juicer on the Market, Demoed at MPM

MPM Food Equipment Group has been named the Midwest and Northeast distributor of Citrocasa, the fastest, most efficient juicers for on-demand juicing needs.

The team at MPM has received extensive training on many of the models, including the Fantastic, the 6000 and 7000 Series, and the 8000 Series – the most powerful on-demand commercial citrus juicer available today.

With the ability to juice thousands of oranges (or lemons or limes) a day, each Citrocasa model can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. With short payback periods and large profits per square foot, each of these juicers delivers healthy juice to the customer and healthy profits to the vendor.
Best Cutting System Available

The units are made with highly attractive, 100 percent food-grade stainless steel. They come with the industry-unique “Soft Cut System” (SCS). Citrocasa’s patent-protected SCS allows for the highest quality orange juice and citrus juice available. The revolutionary “Up & Down” system cuts the fruit precisely, avoiding tearing the peel and contaminating the juice with bitter substances from the orange peel. The end product is simply pure fruit goodness.
Easy to Clean

Thanks to the revolutionary design of its juicers, Citrocasa units can be disassembled quickly and easily. The “Cross-Holder” locks in a total of seven end positions with one quick-release lock. Along with the “Double-Cover” system and the peel ejectors, the machine can be taken apart for cleaning and reassembled in a fraction of the time required by other machines. And, all of the components that come in contact with the juice can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Attractive Design

The design of the Citrocasa units is eye-catching, which can attract customers and help you sell more juice. The food-grade stainless steel (alloy 304) not only delivers durability and efficient cleaning, it showcases great looks that will give you a real sense of pride in your equipment.
Learn More

Are you interested in improving your juicer to better serve your clientele, improve your efficiency, and increase your profits? Contact the food equipment professionals at MPM Food Equipment Group for all of your food equipment needs, including a demonstration of the new Citrocasa juicers!

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

MPM Teams Helps to Open New Store in Detroit

MPM equips the first national grocery chain with an outlet in the city since 2007, as it “opened to cheers and applause in Midtown Detroit”

Northbrook, Ill.— MPM Food Equipment Group helped to open a new 21,000-square foot store in Midtown Detroit. It is downtown Detroit’s first national grocery chain store in six years and the chain’s first-ever site in an inner-city neighborhood.

“We are proud to have teamed up with the chain and many community stakeholders in this venture for Detroit,” said Larry Nicholson, president of MPM. “For years MPM has provided kitchen equipment, products, and design services to the chain. In that time we’ve seen their commitment to their core values, and I’m proud to say that MPM shares those same core values.”

The ceremonies at the opening were attended by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, former Detroit Pistons player John Salley, and Walter Robb.

The opening of the chain's first store "in Detroit is a game changer for our city,” said Bing. “… I appreciate the fact that the leaders of the store involved the entire community in the planning and execution of this development. This is a true community partnership, and we’re proud to welcome them to Detroit.” Robb added. “We’ve worked toward this day for nearly five years. We’re inspired by what Detroiters are doing for this great city.”

The  store is located in Midtown at the intersection of Mack Avenue and John R, near General Motors (GM) headquarters, the Detroit Medical Center, and campuses for Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan.

“I can’t describe the pride and joy I feel when I look at this store and think of how the community has come together to make it happen,” said Larry Austin, store team leader. “So, come on in, Detroit!” Many of the store’s design elements make it uniquely Detroit as well, such as tables made from old car and truck hoods and Motown records adorning register lights.

“I’ve never been to a store opening like this,” said Tom Engel, MPM Sales Manager. “There were tents lined up outside with many of the local products the store is sourcing. We worked a tent with a Southern Pride smoker. We had 300 pounds of barbecue that we smoked for 12 hours. We ran out in just a few hours.

“On top of that, we were able to work with Larry and his team to provide the best commercial cooking equipment available, which will enable the team to provide a valuable service to the Detroit community.”

About MPM Food Equipment Group

Larry Nicholson founded MPM Food Equipment Group in 2003 with the mission to offer the highest-quality food equipment and design services while providing the best customer service in the industry.

MPM represents the finest food equipment manufacturers in the business. The company 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. From supermarkets to churches, commissaries, schools, and government, MPM has provided solutions to all different markets.

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

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Installation in process

MPM Supplies Equipment for Howells & Hood Restaurant in Chicago’s Tribune Tower

MPM Supplies Equipment for 17,000-Square Foot Howells & Hood Restaurant
in Chicago’s Iconic Tribune Tower

“MPM had nothing but solutions for a project
where there was nothing but questions.”

CHICAGO – MPM Food Equipment Group this month worked with the 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.

“This was by far the most ambitious that we’ve had at Bottleneck,” said Jason Akemann, co-owner of Bottleneck Management. “MPM had nothing but solutions for a project where there was nothing but questions.”

“We worked with the team at Bottleneck for seven months to ensure that Howells & Hood would be a success from the moment it opened its doors,” said David Fallon, Director of Sales – Food Service.

“Because of the location, the NBC and Tribune pavilion, with all the pedestrian traffic, they needed us to work around rush hour schedules. That meant that we had to bring equipment down by 6 a.m. and be out of the pavilion by 8 a.m.,” Fallon said.

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.”

It took 171 pieces of commercial restaurant equipment to supply the cook lines and bars. MPM worked with the Bottleneck team to find the right pieces, which were brought to MPM’s warehouse, uncrated and inspected, assembled and rewrapped, delivered and set into place in Howells & Hood. The MPM team worked with Coker Service to install the equipment.

“This is our fourth project with MPM [including Sweetwater Tavern, Old Town Pour House, and South Branch Tavern and Grille]” Akemann said. “With MPM’s help, we created a kitchen with two full cooking lines and a prep line that can serve 700 people at once.”

“Coordinating a project of this scope while dealing with the location and the age of the Tribune Tower presented a unique situation,” Fallon said. “We spent two weeks delivering – five to seven truckloads per week. We had to deal with the city, the traffic, and the pedestrians. We also had to be very careful with the pavilion, so when we were delivering, we had to bring in a lift truck that had right tires that wouldn’t mark – white rubber tire designed to go over the white concrete surfaces.”

The size of the beer cooler and the stock cooler, which is a room-sized cooler in the basement of the Tribune Tower, also presented unique challenges, Fallon added.

About MPM Food Equipment Group

Larry Nicholson founded MPM Food Equipment Group in 2003 with the mission to offer the highest-quality food equipment and design services while providing the best customer service in the industry.

MPM represents the finest food equipment manufacturers in the business. The company 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. From supermarkets to churches, commissaries, schools, and government, MPM has provided solutions to all different markets.

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

MPM Forges Ahead with Northeast Division at Bozzuto’s Conference

MPM-Northeast Division – Connecticut Food and Weighing Equipment – Announces Sales Success at Bozzuto’s and More

Ed Wiernasz and Lisa Wiernasz at the MPM-Northeast Division – Connecticut Food and Weighing Equipment booth during the 2013 Bozzuto’s Independent Retailer Conference.

MPM-Northeast Division – the Connecticut Food and Weighing Equipment – had a successful show at the 2013 Bozzuto’s Independent Retailer Conference, which was attended by 700 independent retailers, held March 12-13, 2013, at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CT.

“The show was a success,” said Ed Wiernasz, vice president of MPM-Northeast. “We were able to connect and reconnect with many of the region’s independent retailers, to show them some of the new items and current trends in the industry. We also sold several items, including a Saturn six-burner gas range SMDR-36-6 and a Vulcan VC44GD double deck gas convection oven.”

MPM Food Equipment Group (MPMFEG) of Northbrook, Ill. acquired Connecticut Food and Weighing Equipment at the beginning of 2013. Clients receive the same service that they have come to expect from Connecticut Food and Weighing and receive additional support and service from the team at MPMFEG. Wiernasz leads the company’s northeast sales division.

If you would like more information, please contact Ed Wiernasz at (860) 436-2926 or email info@mpmfeg.com.