Press Coverage| As seen in…

 

It’s been a busy month of press for Harmony Business. We have been mentioned in a national trade magazine and multiple trade website for a variety of things.

Firstly we were mentioned in Catering Insights July edition for their cover story on Social Media- Social Club: Distributors plug into social media.

The story focused on the use of social media in the catering equipment supplier market. It isn’t used by many for they wanted to speak to those, like us, who make the most of it. If you weren’t aware of what we do, then you have missed out! We are very active on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and our various blogs such as this one and our Catering Equipment Blog and EPOS Systems Blog. Be sure to go and check them out.

The second mention we received this month has been for one of our Professional Kitchen installations. We installed a new cookline and gas interlocking equipment from S&S Northern at the 2AA Rosette restaurant Sharrow Bay. Because the installation was such a success and demonstrates adherence the highest standards of health and safety, thanks to the new gas interlocking equipment, the installation has been featured on a number of trade websites.

Find out more at-

• http://www.northwestcaterer.co.uk/2013/06/17/sharrow-bay-kitchen-gets-leading-gas-safety-system/
• http://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2013/06/sharrow-bay-restaurant-collaboration-ensures-co2-compliance/

Here at Harmony Business we are very pleased with both stories and hope that other enjoy them as much as we do.

Harmony Business hosts seminar on Food Recycling in Scotland

 

On Wednesday 8th May, we hosted a seminar at Anniesland College in Glasgow. Our Sales Manager, Peter Loftus hosted the seminar alongside representatives from Zero Waste Scotland and Tidy Planet. The aim of the seminar was to introduce and demonstrate food recycling to a number of number of hotel and restaurant owners in Scotland. 

Peter has spent the last few months working closely with businesses in Scotland ensuring that they are going to be compliant with new laws on food recycling when they are introduced next year. If you don’t know already; from 2014, hospitality businesses in Scotland will not be allowed to put food waste down waste disposals as they do now. All food waste must be recycled according to legislation put in by the government. As with all legislation, it can be lengthy and complicated so this seminar was used as a way of simplifying the legislation and telling businesses, what exactly they need to do to be complaint.

This seminar also gave us the opportunity to demonstrate first hand a suitable and effective food recycling system that Anniesland College already have in place. We presented three options that would be suitable for the businesses owners who attended and answered all questions surrounding the new legislation and it effects on peoples businesses. 

A Sneak Peek at Askham Hall

Here are a few picture of a installation we carried out at Askham Hall

Kitchen Installation| Old Hall Inn Grassington

 

Just a short post for you all today. Last week our friends at the Old Hall Inn at Grassington were featured on Channel 4’s very popular programme, Four In A Bed. Like most people, we get excited when there is someone that we know on the television, however we were equally excited to see their kitchen being featured, as it is one of our installations.

We are sure you know that Andy from the Old Hall Inn is an excellent chef, if not… where have you been! On the programme he got a chance to share his culinary genius and we are very proud to have supplied the kitchen that helps him create such a popular menu.

The video below shows his fantastic breakfast menu and of course the kitchen!

Illegal Gas Fitter Faces Prison| The Importance of Gas Safe

 

An unregistered gas fitter has received a nine month suspended prison sentence for illegally carrying out sub-standard gas work at establishments in South wales. Gas Safe inspectors found a number of safety defects with the gas appliances installed, including pipework being connected in a way that could have resulted in a serious gas leak if not rectified.

The unregistered engineers had been a multiple offender and had been previously warned of his illegal activity. After his hearing, HSE Inspector, Sara Joanne Carter, said; "Every year there are fires; explosions and people are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning as a direct threat of gas appliances being improperly installed or maintenance  In order to prevent such incidents, it is fundamental requirement that anyone who worked on gas appliances is competent to do so."

At Harmony Business we understand the importance of Gas Safety, and as a result all of our engineers are Gas Safe Registered. This means that they are all qualified to work on gas appliances  So you if have any gas equipment or any maintenance issues always ensure you use a gas safe register.

Contact us for more details, or visit GasSafeRegister.co.uk

Valentines Day Menu

 

It's that time of year again, the day that baffles men and women alike on how to spend the day and what to buy. We recommend that you support your local hotels and restaurants and go out for a special dinner, or failing that create your own special table for two at home.

Get the pots, pans and apron out, fire up the oven and make a three course meal for your significant other. With many websites, such as BBC Food offering a wide range of free recipes, the menu options are endless. At Harmony Business we would make the following for our Valentines Dinner;  

Starter-

Whisky and Chilli Tiger Prawns

Main-

Fillet Steak with Morel Mushroom and Wine Sauce

Dessert-

Basic Chocolate Mousse

What are your plans for Valentines? Which restaurants are you going to, or what do you plan to cook?

Chef Choice awards 2013| Electrolux Combi Oven

 

The annual Chefs’ Choice Awards uncovers the most trustworthy kitchen equipment, and the Electrolux Combi is amongst them. The fight for the best Combi Oven of 2013 was battled out between Rational and Electrolux, with Rational only just beating them for the title; Electrolux has been awarded highly commended.

Electrolux Air-O-Steam Touchline was launched in spring 2010 and was built on Electrolux’s experience in the professional market and based on the premise of its four main pillars; reliability, performance, simplicity and sustainability.

As the newest addition to Electrolux’s oven family it has three intuitive cooking modes; automatic, programmes and manual. It offers uniform heat distribution and fully automatic cleaning as standard. Chefs can also set up to 14 different times operating at any one time, providing flexibility when planning and managing the cooking of multiple types of food. The multi-sensor probe ensures core temperature measurements, thus guaranteeing food safety.

When cooking at low temperatures the combi oven offers up to 50% less weight loss compared to traditional cooking cycles; this means restaurateurs can spend less while increasing output, without compromising on quality. An innovative, high-definition touch-screen panel ensures ease of use and consistent results, while gas burners and heat exchangers also offer up to a 20% saving on gas consumption when compared to other burners.

Electrolux Professional has been in the oven making industry since the 1950s and first produced combi ovens in 1977. Over this time numerous Michelin-starred chefs across Europe have come to use Electrolux appliances in their restaurants.

At Harmony Business we are very proud to be a premium Electrolux dealer, and can offer the Electrolux Air-o-Steam combi ovens at very competitive prices for all our customers. We have years of experience with supplying and working with the Electrolux Air-O-Steams and recommend them to anyone in the market for one.

You can find the entire range of Electrolux Air-O-Steam Combi Ovens on our web-shop; BuyCateringEquipment.co.uk at some of the best prices on the market.

Uniwell AX3000 and Phoenix in Hyltons Restaurant, Bowness

 

Harmony EPOS Solutions recently installed a new EPOS System in Hyltons Restaurant.

Situated in the heart of Bowness-on-Windermere, Hyltons Restaurant is cosy, informal, family friendly, and popular with both tourists and locals. The owner, Steve Wilson, came to Harmony Epos Solutions when he needed an equipment upgrade, he worked along side our EPOS Sales Manager, Trevor Procter to find the best solution based upon his businesses needs. Steve wanted a system that would be easy to use and adapt, that would withstand the knocks and bangs that happen in a busy restaurant, and would enable his staff to spend more time looking after customers rather than playing around on difficult to use tills.

From this is was decided that Hyltons Restaurant would benefit greatly from the new Uniwell AX3000 and Phoenix software system. In December 2012, it was installed and we recently went back to see how their new system was performing. Here is what Steve Wilson had to say;

“We chose to upgrade our current Uniwell system because my previous Uniwell system had given me 15 relatively trouble free years, and I agreed that a Uniwell non-pc based system, is likely to last twice as long as a computer based touch.”

“Our new Uniwell AX3000 looks like a computer so my staff find it simple to use, and I was performing my own program changes from day 1! I can change the simplest things, such as button sizes, colours and menu changes without referring to a manual; the system can be very easily personalised.”

“I have two Nexus tablet running the Phoenix software, meaning that my staff can take orders at the table. The menu changes that I make on the AX3000 are uploaded to the tablets in seconds with no extra programming required. My plan is to use the two Uniwell touch screens to look after the downstairs restaurant and the Phoenix system on the tablets will look after upstairs which means that my staff won’t have to leave their sections upstairs to place orders, so customer service will be greatly improved as my staff will be readily available for my customer at all times.”

“ Once we are fully up to speed with the Phoneix system we will possible take orders with it downstairs as well. The only tricky task will be educating my customers to order in stages for drinks then food, however this will ensure that my staff will not miss items off the bill, so customers will always get what they ordered and we won’t lose money from the missing items. Overall the Phoenix software will help increase table spend and table turnaround.”

“ We chose to work with Harmony EPOS for our upgrade as they had supplied and maintained out previous system and I have always been happy with their after-sales service and quick response times on the rare occasion that have had a problem.”

Trevor Procter, Harmony EPOS Sales Manager, added “The Uniwell AX3000 and Phoenix system is likely to see many table-service restaurants adapt to wireless ordering because the cost of this system is much less than previous systems- two tablets running Phoenix and a wi-fi accessed point will cost less than £1000 compered to over £4000 for older systems. I think that any table-service establishments using a paper system will accept that they lose money due to products such as coffees, desserts and wines missing from a customers bill- and usually these mistakes are only noticed when it is too late. With this system it is not possible to miss products and the orders will be sent to the kitchen in real-time allowing the waitress to be more available to customers which will increase spend and customer satisfaction.”

Adande | Catering Equipment Dealer Survey

 

Adande, manufacturers of refrigeration to a unique and patented design, recently commissioned an anonymous survey among catering equipment dealers, with some very interesting results.

A lack of temperature stability was seen as a significant, but unavoidable, shortcoming of all conventional refrigeration units when used in professional kitchens. The majority of dealers surveyed recognise that the design of all traditional door and drawer fridges leaves them unable to cope when their use increases and kitchen temperatures rise.

 

When asked to “name the biggest problems associated with conventional cabinets” 50% of those responding said that the most serious issue is a lack of temperature stability. It is no surprise that temperature stability is a concern as it is the single most important factor in ensuring food safety and extended shelf life. Without it, food waste and poor food quality become significant costs and a drain on hard earned profits. Unstable temperatures also promote the growth of the bacteria that cause food poisoning.

So if half of respondents consider rightly that temperature stability is the most serious shortcoming of traditional refrigeration why do they then seem to accept it? The answer could be seen in the answers to other questions that revealed a commonly held view that as all traditional units perform in a similar way none should be expected to work effectively in hot and busy environments. So although temperature stability is known to be vital, some respondents considered it an impossible goal.

 

So what can be done to help caterers avoid the high cost of losses resulting from unstable temperatures?

Thousands of chefs and kitchen operators have found a unique solution to the problem. They use Adande Refrigeration and have proved, to their own satisfaction, that the problem is not the heat in the kitchen, nor is it operator abuse or misuse. It is simply a case of not using the right tool for the job. Each Adande unit has an insulated drawer - a simple patent protected design that is not available to any other manufacturer without a licence. The dense cold air sits in the drawer when it is opened and the hot kitchen air cannot displace it.

Questioned further about “customer requirements” when selecting refrigeration, 94% of dealers cited purchase price, 69% listed reliability and 33% mentioned after sales service as being one of the three main purchase drivers.

While purchase price will always be high on the list with customers, it was interesting to see there is a growing recognition that ‘lifetime cost’ is important. And when asked “which brand would you recommend to clients interested in equipment with the lowest through life cost of ownership” more dealers considered that Adande provides users with the lowest ‘lifetime cost’ than any other brand.

Adande refrigeration does what any chef would want and any dealer should recommend. The units cost less to own, keep food safer and fresher for longer, are more reliable, use less energy and perform to specification no matter where they are located, or how hot and busy the kitchen.

For more information on Adande Refrigeration please call Harmony Business on 015395 66680, or email sales@harmonybusiness.co.uk.

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year! We assume that our customers and suppliers are now either busy back in the office or are putting their feet up after the busy festive rush; either way we hope that you had a successful Christmas period. As the excitement of the holidays wears off, and the food and drink dwindle down, the period of looking ahead begins. Many look ahead at the year by making personal goals and resolutions, many start to plan holidays or activities for the next 12 months. Whether your changes are drastic or none at all you will find yourself reflecting upon 2012 and wondering what 2013 will bring.

Here at Harmony Business, we have have a busy yet tough 2012, as many have in the hospitality industry, but despite this we have found ourselves in a strong position and would like the thank all of our customers and suppliers for their support and assistance, as without you we would not be where we are today. Like everyone, we are unsure of what 2013 will bring, but we have made our resolutions as a company, and have our aims and objective in place so we can tackle whatever the year throws at us.

So Happy New Year to you all, we hope you have a great one and look forward to working with you in 2013.