TOUCH OF A BUTTON
Flexeserve has enjoyed further recognition, with a SMART Label Award. Maintaining a strong industry event presence worldwide, this established team is dedicated to helping all manner of foodservice operators sell more and waste less. Flexeserve’s services are a key driver in this mission, with a proven ability to reduce energy costs and streamline efficiencies.
Their cloud-based innovation, Connect by Flexeserve, is quickly becoming their most celebrated, now accredited with SMART Label certification by HostMilano’s esteemed panel of judges.
Launched in 2023, it quickly earned a buzz within the industry as the first cloud-based service for hot-holding.
Warwick Wakefield, director of customer experience at Flexeserve, said: “No other platform offers such complete automation for hot food-to-go. With Connect, operators now have a way to turn units or their shelves on and off, schedule cook times, adjust temperatures and receive real-time data analytics – all at the touch of a button.
The service was honoured at the lunch! Show, the Sandwich & Food to Go Industry Awards and at GulfHost 2024’s Innovation Awards, in which it was named Best Front-of House Innovation.
“Connect’s success and recognition is attributed to its immediate ROI benefits,” continued Wakefield. “It’s already trusted by major brands who understand Connect’s potential to save them millions in food waste, labour and energy costs.
“As well as this, Connect’s ability to support other kitchen equipment and cooking systems makes it extremely versatile.
SMART THINKING
HostMilano took place from 17-21 October, with its SMART Label Host Innovation Awards promoted in collaboration with POLI.design, a key higher education provider founded by Politecnico di Milano.
This relationship sees the awards benefit from a rich judging panel of industry experts. Featuring reputable professors of Politecnico di Milano itself, as well as global technology retail specialists, to be recognised by this panel is a true honour.
With only 15 of all submissions being accredited with the certification, each one is meticulously analysed for eye-catching functionality, technology, environmental sustainability or ethical and social implications.
“Connect was selected for ‘innovation in mode of use’, which we believe in wholeheartedly,” continued Wakefield. “The influence Connect can have on foodservice, particularly in the industry’s efforts towards more sustainable and efficient practices, is staggering. At Flexeserve, we’re excited to be right at the forefront of these unique advancements.”
Connect remains only one element of a wider service that Flexeserve offers to achieve true hot-holding – Flexeserve Solution.
“This is our all-encompassing service that puts your business at the centre of our expertise,” said Kristian Ward, EMEA key account manager. “We work alongside all kinds of operators to review their entire hot-holding programme, from menus and cook methods to packaging and the implementation process. The results are transformative, with customers able to maximise sales and profit potential.
“Solution really does unlock true hot-holding, utilising the pioneering technology found in each Flexeserve unit to its full capabilities. By effectively using recirculated hot air, our units can keep a huge variety of food at just-cooked quality for longer than ever thought possible. Solution finds the exact microclimate needed to perfect your entire menu for unrivalled customer satisfaction.”