Many industry pundits are predicting that we are about to enter a Golden Age for restaurant expansion. The Pandemic has created many real estate opportunities for visionary operators. With a bevy of new eating establishments making their debut, a key to their success is finding value added commercial kitchen cooking and refrigeration solutions.
Innovative entrepreneur Hakan Inan has set his sights on helping restaurateurs and the dealers and consultants that serve them find the essential equipment needed to get open on time. Last month, Inan opened the Galaxy Group. The new wholesale distribution business based in Kearny, NJ offers an extensive range of in-stock commercial kitchen and refrigeration products.
“Before we launched the Galaxy Group, I spent over 10 years in the industry as the President and co-founder of Atlantic Restaurant & Supermarket Equipment,” Inan said. “By training, I am an electrical engineer with a graduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering, and also an MBA. I spent a long career in engineering, operations and executive management, before I decided to start my own business.”
Inan’s engineering background although non-traditional for the E&S industry, has proven to be an invaluable asset. “Our engineering expertise in mechanical systems, energy efficiency, and product design drove our equipment selection and evaluation. It has ensured compliance with industry standards for optimal performance and customer satisfaction.”
Inan and his Galaxy Group co-founders began as small local suppliers of kitchen and supermarket equipment to restaurants/grocery stores and food service establishments in the NY metropolitan area. “Over time, we expanded our offerings and grew our business to become one of the leading suppliers of restaurant and supermarket equipment in the region, the veteran industry executive noted. We invested heavily in technology and innovation, constantly seeking new ways to improve the efficiency and functionality of our products.”
Inan’s experience in operating the Atlantic dealership, whose history dates back to 1993, has given his team a deep understanding of the restaurant and supermarket industries as they enter the distribution business. “We work closely with our clients to provide products and services that meet their specific requirements,” he said. “We are committed to our core values of integrity, quality, and exceptional customer service. We take pride in our ability to build long-lasting relationships with our clients and support their growth and success with an ear for the evolving demands of our customers.”
Building a successful E&S supply business is contingent on the ability to shop the world to find the highest quality equipment. “For the last 10 years we have started working with Turkish manufacturers,” Inan explained. “Today, Turkey has the number two manufacturing capacity in Europe, rivaled only by Italy. You can find the same European-quality in the products, but they are much less known in the U.S. We saw a huge potential in bringing these high-quality products that we tailor specifically to meet the needs of the US market to our customers.”
To build Galaxy’s inventory, Inan forged strategic partnerships with leading Turkish manufacturers to launch six new brands: Luna Refrigeration, Pegasus Cooking Equipment, Polaris Preparation Equipment, Nova Commercial Dishwashers, Venus Display Cases and Vista Walk-in Coolers. All products offered by Galaxy have undergone rigorous testing and adhere to the highest US standards and certifications. “This commitment to quality and safety ensures that customers can trust the reliability and durability of the products they purchase, Inan added.”
Each of the products in the Galaxy lines have been picked specifically to meet the demands Inan and his team are seeing in the market. “Our Pegasus Cooking Equipment provides a wide range of gas and electric pizza ovens, from countertop to deck type pizza ovens. Introducing electric cooking equipment that includes electric induction cooktops, ranges, hotplates, griddles, fryers and pizza ovens all readily available in stock at competitive prices.
Galaxy’s line of Polaris Preparation Equipment offers planetary and spiral mixers, meat grinders, cutter mixers, food processors, dough sheeters. “Superior quality with very competitive pricing,” Inan said. “Our Luna Refrigeration is manufactured by Ugur, a major supplier for some of the biggest brands in the world including Coca Cola, Pepsi, Unilever and Nestle, with an incredible production capacity of 4500 units a day.”
The Vista line features Walk In coolers and freezers at any custom size, from a small walk-in cooler for a small deli to a large refrigerated warehouse, ready to ship within a few days. Galaxy’s Venus Display Cases feature remote display cases for supermarkets such as multi-deck merchandiser, glass door freezers. The Nova Commercial Dishwashers being stocked in New Jersey offers high temp undercounter and hood type dishwashers.
Galaxy also understands the peace of mind that the right warranty offers the foodservice community. “Our warranties and service network are key strengths that sets us apart. We have a widespread presence throughout the USA, we provide comprehensive support and assistance to our customers wherever they are located. For refrigerators, we offer a 3-year warranty covering parts and labor, with an additional 5-year warranty for the compressor. For our other products, we provide a 1-year warranty that covers parts and labor. We are committed to providing peace of mind and reliable performance for our customers,” Inan added.
Galaxy’s launch in Metro New York, is the first step in a national rollout. The strength of our company’s supply chain lies in its robust infrastructure and strategic partnerships. With a 50,000 square foot warehouse in New Jersey, Galaxy is slated to open six new warehouses across the country within the next two years. Inan’s engineering background led to the creation of a state of the industry tech infrastructure to drive the growth.
“Providing the right products at the right time to our customers is our number one priority,” he said. “Our manufacturing partners maintain diverse and flexible supply chains to allow them to effectively navigate global supply chain issues and adapt to changing market dynamics, ensuring a reliable flow of products. When a customer calls us to request a product, they can come and pick it up within 24 hours.
“Please call us or visit our website. We invite dealers, distributors and manufacturers’ reps to discover the products and exceptional services that Galaxy Group offers,” Inan concluded.
