Win follows awards from, amongst others, NRA, Intergastra and Host. 
The new Rational SelfCookingCenter® whitefficiency® has won the IFEX 2012 best product award. It is the latest in a series of international awards for Rational’s latest combi steamer, including the Kitchen Innovations Award 2012, National Restaurant Association, USA; Green Band award for sustainability, Intergastra, Stuttgart (February 2012); and both the Gold Innovation Award and the Green Excellence Award at HOST 2011, Milan.
IFEX, which was held in King’s Hall, Belfast, 24-26 April, is Northern Ireland’s biggest catering exhibition. Rational distributor Stephens Catering accepted the award at the Show. Stephens’ managing director Paul Caves said, “It’s great when a new piece of catering technology gives real, practical benefits to the customer – and that’s exactly what the new SelfCookingCenter whitefficiency does. It’s faster, offers a bigger capacity and delivers the best ever cooking results. We are delighted to be working with Rational and to accept the award on their behalf.”
Meanwhile the chair of the judges, Michael Deane of Deane Restaurants, commented on the competitive nature of the IFEX awards saying, “At IFEX, where there’s thousands of new products and business solutions all under one roof, the Product of the Show awards are extremely valuable.”
Rational’s new combi oven has been hailed as a “quantum leap forward” in terms of efficiency, output and cooking quality. The SelfCookingCenter whitefficiency combines two new technologies, HiDensityControl® and Efficient LevelControl®, with the established SelfCooking Control® and the recently launched CareControl®. It also features an entirely new control panel. Collectively they deliver a groundbreaking combi that is faster, more efficient, easier to use and more sustainable. It has up to 30% more capacity, cuts energy consumption by up to 20% and reduces production times by up to 30% compared to previous models.
Paul Caves of Stephens Catering accepted the Award from Arlene Foster, MLA Minister of Enterprise, Trade & Investment, and Michael Deane of Deane Restaurants.