There are times in life when it’s not a bad idea to buy the generic, or “bargain” brand. I’ve tried generic items and been satisfied many times and when it comes to prescription medications, most insurance plans won’t pay for brand names. You get the generic or pay big bucks for the brand name.
A report by CBS News last year named seven generic brands they recommend because they are high-quality and will save money:
- Aldi Simply Nature
- Costco Kirkland Signature
- Kroger Simple Truth
- Safeway Select
- Target Up & Up
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart Equate
But if you’re in the restaurant business, do you want to save money buying equipment for your kitchen that has a second-tier name and reputation? It’s been our experience over many years of working with restaurants across the country that it’s not a very good idea. Many restaurants run their stoves, fryers, ice makers, food processors and mixers literally 24/7 so they are pushed to the limit every day. A breakdown, even if it’s only a for a day, can cost a business revenue and customer loyalty.
Check the reputations for most of the commercial kitchen equipment brands that have earned the distinction “Best in Class” and you’ll see they have been in business for many decades. Visit the kitchens in the finest restaurants all over the world and you’ll see names like Vulcan, Manitowoc, and VitaMix.
It may be cold outside, but we always need ice. We are proud to represent and stock machines from manufacturers of seven out of ten of the best commercial ice machines according to a 2017 survey:
1. Manitowoc NEO UR-0140A Air Cooled 129 Lb Regular Cube Undercounter Ice Machine
2. SPT IM-600US Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker
3. Manitowoc NEO UY-0190A Air-Cooled 193 Lb Half Dice Cube Undercounter Ice Machine
4. Maxx Ice MIM250 Self Contained Ice Maker
5. Manitowoc ID-0502A_B-570 530 Lb Air-Cooled Full Cube Ice Machine
6. Manitowoc Storage Ice Bin 430lbs
7. Scotsman CU0715MA-1A CU0715 Essential Ice Cube Style Ice Machine
8. Manitowoc Ice Storage Bin, 210 lbs
9. SPT IM-440C 44 lb Automatic Ice Maker
10. Ice-O-Matic 238lb/24 Commercial Half Cube Ice Maker Machine
