Each year, Green Lodging News reports on the recipients of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show’s Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards. I posted a press release about the awardees this past week. Several of the awardees have been particularly innovative. Here are just a few of the awarded innovations that caught my eye:
BDGR LLC’s OiLChef device doubles the life of cooking oil in deep fryers and enables operators to reduce cooking times. When the life of that cooking oil is over, BDGR has figured out a way to transform it into a biodegradable degreaser—a safe cleaning solution that biodegrades within 31 days.
The CNSRV DC:02 from CNSRV Inc. gives kitchens a smarter, more controlled way to thaw frozen food and chill hot food. By replacing running faucets and manual workarounds with engineered circulation and precise temperature control, it improves operational efficiency while significantly reducing water use, saving time and money, and delivering consistent results every shift.
Instafarm began by perfecting the art of growing fresh, nutrient-dense microgreens in home kitchens. After years of refining reliable, soil-based, automated growing for everyday use, that same proven system is now available for commercial kitchens. The Instafarm Commercial Unit is designed specifically for restaurants, chefs, and foodservice operators who want consistent, high-quality microgreens grown fresh on-site. With intelligent sensors and automated growing technology, Instafarm removes the complexity of indoor farming—delivering dependable daily harvests without adding labor or disrupting kitchen workflows. Unlike hydroponic alternatives, Instafarm grows microgreens in real soil, resulting in superior flavor, texture, and visual appeal.
The Hobart FT2000 Flight Type Dishwasher was designed using real-world insights to reduce labor time on machine cleaning and staff training with easy-open load and unload ends and removable side panels, plus color-coded parts and graphic instructions that guide staff through routine cleaning and operation. Adaptive Washing evaluates incoming ware and automatically adjusts conveyor speed to optimize wash, rinse, and drying performance.
Many More Companies to Learn More About
Some more examples of companies with innovative products to check out at the show: Kaneka Green Planet, Restaurant Technologies, Inc., 3e Biotech, AccuTemp Products Inc., Allied-Eco-Grip Flooring, Babylon Micro-Farms, Better Earth, Excel Dryer, Inc., Eximius Greenfield, Foodservice Sustainability Solutions, Frontline International, Greenprint Products, Greenway Plastics, Humane World for Animals, Kanak Naturals, Leanpath, Oil Solutions Group, Pack-a-Drum, Power Knot, Satco Products, Southern Aluminum, The Amazing Flamess Candle, The Prestwick Group, and Your Green 2 Go.
Show Set for May 16 to 19
This spring’s National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will take place from May 16 to 19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Be sure to check out the entire exhibitor list that includes more than 1,500 companies ready to help you clean greener, cook and bake efficiently, reduce water consumption, and minimize waste. You can sort the list by diverse business classification: disabled-owned, minority-owned, veteran owned, and woman-owned.
Click here to learn how the show is committed to reducing its environmental footprint by implementing sustainable practices, such as minimizing waste, using eco-friendly materials, and promoting energy efficiency.
Green Lodging News Adds Next Step Flooring Solutions to Product Directory
Green Lodging News has added Next Step Flooring Solutions to the “Flooring/Mat” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Next Step Flooring Solutions, now part of the T2 Site Amenities family, delivers commercial grade, custom designed mats proudly made in the USA. From branded entrance and lobby mats to durable elevator mats, the company provides tailored solutions for hotels, luxury apartments, mixed use developments, educational facilities, and office environments. There is no limit on logo, color, shape and size (including wrapping around revolving doors).
Floor mats can contribute 1.5 points toward LEED certification. The backing on floor mats can be made from recycled materials and, in some cases, the entire mat offers:
- 2016 LEED V4 Ready
- 100% PVC Free
- Cradle to Cradle Recycling
- The Only EnviroCel-Bio-Felt Backed Matting in the Industry
- Manufactured from Soy Beans & 100% P.E.T. (Therephthalate Polyester) Recycled Plastic Bottles
For more information, call (630) 392-6096 or e-mail Paul@t2-sa.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,588 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2026?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2026. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website last month welcomed 42,000 different visitors and experienced 498,000 page views. Interested in receiving a 2026 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 17,588. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
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As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
