US NRA Association

Two Kitchen Innovations Awards for Welbilt

The US trade association National Restaurant Association is honoring the innovative power of Welbilt's Convotherm and Merrychef brands this year with two Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards. The coveted awards will be presented at the National Restaurant Association Show from 20 – 23 May in Chicago.

The Kitchen Innovations Award 2023 goes to ConvoSense! With the world's first AI-controlled, fully automated cooking and baking system for combi-ovens, Convotherm helps its customers load the perfect cooking program and start cooking immediately. ConvoSense is specifically designed for mixed loads, automatically detects the food being cooked and starts the correct cooking program for each tray. The precise control of the cooking chamber conditions reliably produces consistent and excellent results.

Appetizing snacks in no time

The jury also judged the new Merrychef conneX® series with integrated panini press as worthy of an award. It enables restaurateurs to serve their customers appetizing snacks with perfect grill marks in no time. The tripleX technology makes the high-speed oven the fastest, quietest and most energy-efficient solution in its class. As a new accessory, there is the patented panini press that is not attached to the oven. It can be easily inserted and removed with one hand. A newly developed auto-lift function of the press enables smooth loading and unloading.

Since their introduction in 2005, the KI Awards of the National Restaurant Association Show have earned a reputation for defining the gold standard for foodservice equipment. The high-profile expert jury identifies the most innovative and technically advanced solutions in the industry. The award-winning products enable automation, efficiency, sustainability, and more and are an important part of the National Restaurant Association Show. As winners of the 2023 award, Convotherm and Merrychef will showcase their products ConvoSense and conneX® with automated panini press in the KI showroom at the event.

Solutions for current challenges

Tom Cindric, President of Winsight Exhibitions, praises: "We are thrilled with the winners. Every year we see innovative products that revolutionize kitchen and foodservice operations, and 2023 is no exception. These devices are a response to many of the challenges facing businesses today, including labor shortages and labor costs. They create a new generation of kitchens that improve operations and safety through increased efficiency, versatility, and productivity, thereby contributing to increased profits."

The National Restaurant Association Show is the world's leading trade fair for the hospitality industry. From innovative food and beverage products to new technologies, the fair offers a comprehensive platform for exchange and knowledge transfer.

ConvoSense, the innovative AI assistance system for Convotherm combi ovens