MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—As testament to its design, Alto-Shaam recently determined that its Cook & Hold Oven operates for less than a dollar’s worth of electricity per load of food. The Cook & Hold, Alto-Shaam’s flagship oven, touts many advantages, including ease of use, product quality, greatly reduced shrink, and cooking versatility. The low energy consumption is yet another advantage to this oven. “With all these factors combined, the Cook & Hold is an excellent example of our EcoSmart philosophy,” said Steve Maahs, president and COO of Alto-Shaam. “EcoSmart is the efficient and effective use of all of your...

NEW ALBANY, MISS.—Master-Bilt’s patented Master Controller Reverse Cycle Defrost for walk-in refrigeration systems has been upgraded. While maintaining a 27 percent increase in energy savings and offering up to an 80 percent decrease in defrost energy usage, a new enhancement over the current system includes high-tech features that now allow users to have complete access of their system remotely and globally. The Master Controller Reverse Cycle Defrost System (MCRCD) features a valve that reverses the flow of high temperature refrigerant through the evaporator coil, heating along its entire length and eliminating frost buildup. Now, it’s been upgraded to include Web2Walk-In,...

CHICAGO—The National Restaurant Association is launching a new Healthier Kids Fare pavilion at its 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show to underscore its commitment to helping its members and Show attendees increase healthful children’s options on restaurant menus. This special area of the exhibit floor at the nation’s largest and most comprehensive industry trade show will make it easy for foodservice operators to find a range of healthful food and beverage products to develop delicious and nutritious children’s menus. NRA Show 2012 will be held on its new dates, May 5 to 8, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. “Children’s nutrition is one of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added three hydrocarbons as acceptable alternatives in household and small commercial refrigerators and freezers through EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. EPA took action after requests from Ben and Jerry’s and General Electric, as well as A.S. Trust & Holdings, and True Manufacturing, a family-owned small business. These businesses are helping to clear the way for U.S. companies to use ozone layer-protective hydrocarbon refrigerants. “Today’s action is a great example of how businesses and EPA can work together to protect our planet and drive innovation,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for...

INWOOD, N.Y.—Electrolux’s new dryers are designed to cut time in the cleaning and drying process while still achieving the best results. The three new high tech Electrolux T5000-series dryers are available in 35, 67, and 83 pound capacities. The drying time is being shortened by 10 minutes on average, compared to previous generations of similar models, while at the same time cutting the energy consumption by up to 20 percent. The dryers take up 20 percent less wall space making it possible for the user to optimize the production area. Attention has also been put into the ergonomic design...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF.—ClearWater Tech, a manufacturer of ozone systems for water and air purification, has launched its new EcoTex Laundry System website. The new site represents ClearWater Tech’s commitment to the growing needs of their customers in the ozone laundry industry. The EcoTex site offers easy navigation and showcases the most advanced information on all aspects of the EcoTex products and applications. There are relevant news articles, case studies, technical papers, and direct access to sales and customer service. Special features include new EcoTex web videos, including “How EcoTex Works, and just released, “The EcoTex Short Video” highlighting one-on-one interviews...

NEW ALBANY, MISS.—Master-Bilt announced that Scott Jordan has been named as their new president. Scott served as vice president of operations and general manager of BKI, a Standex Food Service Equipment Group company, since April, 2008. Previous to BKI, he worked with Baldor Electric for 16 years in manufacturing, quality assurance, purchasing, finance, strategic planning, plant management, marketing, and lean continuous improvement roles. Scott earned an MBA from Clemson University and an engineering degree from North Carolina State University. Master-Bilt, a member of the Standex Food Service Equipment Group, offers a complete line of commercial refrigeration including walk-ins, cabinets and...

CHICAGO—The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and honorary chairwoman First Lady Michelle Obama to solve the nation’s childhood obesity crisis, announced at its inaugural Building a Healthier Future Summit that it has partnered with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts to improve the nutritional profile of food menus at full-service managed Hyatt properties across the country. Menus at all Hyatt hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada will be enhanced following the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate federal guidance, which targets children’s menus. In the next year, Hyatt...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Developer Orange Lake Resorts, operator of seven Holiday Inn Club Vacations resort destinations, announced that it is taking steps towards minimizing the impact of the company’s carbon footprint by introducing a new $1.4 million PulseFlow tunnel system by Pellerin Milnor Corporation that will save them 15 million gallons of water per year at their flagship Orlando resort. For nearly 30 years, Orange Lake Resorts has operated the laundry facility for their Orlando resort using three 600 pound washer extractors and six 200 pound dryers processing 1,800 pounds of laundry per hour with 3 gallons of water used per pound,...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International has earned top honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for outstanding achievement in food waste recycling programs at the company’s Las Vegas Strip resorts. The company will be presented with the EPA’s 2011 WasteWise Gold Achievement-Food Recovery Award as part of the agency’s annual competition, which recognizes public and private entities for their environmental sustainability efforts. The EPA will give Gold Achievement awards in 12 sustainability categories.   The EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award is the third national award that MGM Resorts has earned for its recycling program. The Glass Packaging Institute recognized MGM Resorts...