Hot soup. What does it mean to you? For some, it is a familiar, comforting food that warms us in cooler seasons. For others, it may be a quick, wholesome, nutritious meal that can be eaten on the go.
Prior to the pandemic, you could find hot soup held in bulk soup wells, and the customer would ladle it into to-go serving cups themselves. However, all that has changed. I worked with a customer that rightfully believes in soup's comforting power, and I, for one, believe a more accurate statement could not be made these days. Soup is wholesome, nurturing, and familiar. What else do we need at this time? It's like a hug from the inside.
I recently got to know Campbell's Soup better due to a friend of mine who works for the soup giant. We met in culinary school many years ago. Recently, he needed a solution for a project they were working on when the market turned away from the traditional self-serve soup portioning and went to pre-portioned, sealed, ready-to-enjoy hot soup.
Pre-portioned individual servings not only help reduce food waste but also reduce the possibility of cross-contamination. Working with Campbell's corporate chef, I was able to help determine which Hatco equipment would achieve the hot holding results they were looking for. Equipment that will safely hold their pre-portioned, packaged soups and chili at proper temperatures while maintaining the soup's quality, with no doors to open to reduce the potential for cross-contamination, that has a long-lasting life and will market the product well. The chosen model? A version of the Hatco GRPWS-D unit, a dual-shelf unit with thermostatically-controlled bases available in a variety of sizes and well-lit on each shelf.
Yes! This model was originally designed to hold boxed pizzas, hence the model nomenclature Glo-Ray® Pizza Warmer. But, as with just about everything today, our equipment has had to become more adaptable to address various needs, not just the one for which it was originally designed. Foodservice itself has innovated to accommodate the rapidly changing needs of the customer base. Campbell's had to change how its customers were still able to enjoy their product. They saw the need to change, present their product in a new, safe, and exciting way, and move forward. Of course, we are happy to help.
What have you done to change direction and succeed? Is there a challenge Hatco can help you with? Let's talk.
Written by Brad Stoeckel, Hatco Dealer Sales Manager
