You Missed It, But We Didn't
New Product Launches at Fine Foods

While walking the floor of the 2008 Fine Foods Show in Melbourne I had the opportunity to speak with several of PMQ’s advertisers and was delighted to learn of many new products that have just hit or are about to hit the market. After viewing these items and discussing the industry with representatives of these companies I thought it would be a good idea to update our readers who couldn’t be at the show about what’s new, so here’s a look at what I found. If you see something you like, be sure to tell them you saw their products featured in Australia’s best and longest continually published pizza trade publication… PMQ’s Pizza Australia. For more finds from the show, be sure to check out the New Ideas and Innovations article on page 32 where we introduce even more great finds from the show from manufacturers you may not know about.

One of the first companies I came across was ABP Atlas and Joseph Pali who was showcasing the new line of IGF Mixers.These mixers were a new launch at the show for ABP and IGF Mixers have only been offered in Australia for just 8 years and already have more than 8000 units installed. IGF has been making mixers for over 32 years and are an Italian-made, family owned business. Each mixer comes with a 3 year warranty and is available in several sizes, including the heavy duty 90 litre model.To learn more about IGF Mixers and ABP’s complete line of restaurant and bakery equipment, contact Joseph Pali at 3 9878 6900 or visit their site at www.abpatlas.com.au.

Another new product I was able to learn about was the new WOW! Ovens from Middleby Marshall on display by Spyral. Andrew Morris and Neville Paul gave me the word about these new ovens they were showcasing. The WOW! Oven uses a patented ‘energy eye’ technology that allows the oven to go into “sleep mode” when it senses there is no product to be cooked and then “wake” when it senses products are about to be cooked, requiring only 1 minute to come up to correct temperature.This technology reduces overall energy consumption by up to 30% and can reduce cooking times allowing for a greater load and reduced labour costs. If that isn’t enough, the WOW! Oven also offers touch screens and the ability to interface with cash registers in order to “wake” the oven in anticipation of pizza orders.To learn more about the WOW! Oven, contact Spyral at 7 3632 1800 or visit www.spyral.com.au.

After a good chat with Ben Kamer and Ryko Valance from First Pack I learned more of their launching of an exciting new contest for pizza shop owners. First Pack was announcing a fantastic national competition at the show whereby the first prize is 15,000 personalised printed pizza boxes. Second prize is also great, its 3 months supply of any of First Packs great range of generic printed cartons including warehousing and delivery.Third prize is 6 of First Pack’s excellent pizza delivery bags. Some conditions apply but this is a great competition offering even the smallest pizza outlet the chance to brand themselves like the big players...not to mention lots of free boxes.The entry forms and terms and conditions of entering the competition are on their web site and winners will be drawn at First Pack’s stand at the Sydney Fine Food Expo Sept 2009.All winners will be published in the December 2009 issue of PMQ’s Australia Magazine. For more information about First Pack call them toll free on 1300 665 554 or visit www.firstpack.com.au.

With summer in swing, I was refreshed to see the line of slush machines that were being demonstrated by Essential Brands. While Essential Brands are probably best known for their line of Espresso Essential coffee machines, this is a product that not only sells (especially on those hot, drought-filled days) but has appeal to parents who don’t want their kids loading up on sugar filled drink options. Several of the slush products contain up to 99% real fruit juices. If you like, you can even load the machines with drink options more aligned to adult tastes, such as a nice tequila-laced magherita or other spirit filled concoction...which is something I tried to convince Josh Ingham to do after the show ended.To learn more about Essential Brands line of slush machines and coffee products, contact them at 7 5522 0677 or visit www.ebg.com.au.