Do you remember the film, ‘A Night at the Roxbury’? Whether you’ve seen it or not, I hope you’ll indulge me in a moment of comic relief.
In the movie, brothers Steve and Doug Butabi are two nightclub regulars aspiring to own a club of their own one day. In one scene, they’re standing outside a club, anxiously waiting to be accepted inside and suddenly—an epiphany. An inside-out club.
Doug turns to his brother and says, “What if the outside of the club looked like the inside?”
When the movie debuted in 1998, it was meant to poke fun at the American nightclub industry. The idea of a club where the outside looked like the inside was an absurd satire of a highly exclusive and successful industry.
In 2020, it seems we’re not far away from what appeared impossible just a few years ago. This December, more dining is taking place outdoors than indoors.
Sidewalks, gardens and patios nationwide have evolved into living, breathing foodservice spaces, and thus, our operational needs transformed. Now more than ever, innovation is crucial. A bold idea doesn’t seem so absurd anymore.
The team at Metro knows this—and they’re prepared. Before the pandemic hit, their team huddled together for a national sales meeting that was titled “Disruption 2020”. They knew big change was coming to the industry and that Metro would be at the forefront of redefining commodity kitchen staples.
“Don’t go where the puck is. Go where the puck is going—that’s a quote from Wayne Gretzky but it applies here,” says Glenn Lawless, National Accounts Dealer Development Manager.
With the invention of their new Super Erecta heated shelves, Metro has literally changed how we think about putting product on a shelf.
“The Super Erecta shelving has always been the industry standard in foodservice. Ever since then, we knew we had to innovate somehow,” says Lawless. “People obviously know us for our shelving, and they know us for our heating and holding capacities. It was a marriage made in heaven of the two products. It was on our road map a long time ago.”
As owners and operators are more carefully assessing purchasing, it’s this essential, non-assuming manufacturer that’s changed the game in how we keep food safe since the company’s conception in the early 1940’s.
The new heated shelves are made in North America and are now available for purchase and immediate delivery from Singer Equipment Company. Just like all Metro shelving, these new shelves are adjustable, customizable and compatible with all Metro Super Erecta shelving, so they can be mixed and matched with your chrome and epoxy shelving levels as needed, to keep cold food cold and hot food hot, and all food safe. The heated holding models are sealed with an antimicrobial coating, and also befit these units for extended hold times. Shelves reach a piping hot temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit and are waterproof, making them the perfect solution for curbside pickup, takeout and delivery.
“A lot of operators are writing their menu around delivery first now,” says Lawless. “It’s exciting to see what’s coming down the path. It’s a catalyst for innovation.”
The buzz around these new shelves is radiating, just like the heat from within them. Learn more about same day shipping from our neighbors at Metro, conveniently located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Super Erecta Hot shelving is now in stock. For more information, send us a note at marketing@singerequipment.com.
