Showing Off Items That Support Better Foodservice

From compostable foodservice packaging to products for increased hygiene to pickup lockers that help reduce food theft, there was plenty on display at the National Restaurant Association Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Vendors from near and far rolled out products for any—and every—conceivable aspect of food preparation.

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Moffat’s Turbofan 30D Series is a hybrid steam-injected oven that offers a robust feature set, delivering combi ovenlike cookout minus the need for a drain. A ventless add-on is an option.

Touchscreen or digital controls support recipes up to five stages, and there is a USB port for easy updates. The oven bakes, cooks and holds, roasts or rethermalizes. The 30 Series is available in nine sizes, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based company said.

The video screens from digital signage company Navori Labs, Montreal, let retailers advertise new products, seasonal offers, loyalty programs, promotions and more—and updates can be done quickly.

Software supports all popular media player display platforms, and there are two versions available depending on a retailer’s needs. Digital signage software offers hardware flexibility.

Compostable foodservice packaging from Atlanta-based Better Earth includes these new-to-market taco trays, which come in various sizes. Customizable printing is offered on these products, which are made from domestically produced fiber from perennial grasses like switchgrass, sorghum and miscanthus—and regenerative agricultural methods. All products are free of PFAS.

Chekt smart, stackable lockers from Wayzata, Minnesota-based Cargill allow retailers to secure food orders in an ambient atmosphere. A c-store receives a digital order and prepares the food, placing it in an insulated smart food locker when ready.

The customer then gets a text notification that their food is ready along with pickup instructions. When the customer arrives at the locker, they text “HERE” and their pod lights up and unlocks, letting them take their order. The Chekt system can be integrated into a retailer’s point-of-sale (POS) system. The lockers help reduce theft and incorrect pickups.

This Liquibox urn liner from Charlotte, North Carolina-based See (formerly known as Sealed Air) reduces bacteria by 99% for iced teas, iced coffees, lemonade, fruit drinks and more. An improved design enables separating the tube, making it easier to recycle the liner. Liners are available in standard sizes and are customizable.

The beverage never comes into contact with the container around it or the spigot, allowing for a great-tasting beverage free from unwanted flavors left by cleaning chemical residue or microbial contamination from improper cleaning practices.

The Earthwise touch-free and sustainable cutlery dispenser from Oshkosh, Wisconsin-based Hoffmaster is designed for ease and efficiency. The housing is bamboo and the cutlery birch. The unit, which the company says does not jam nor clog. combines hygienic dispensing with sustainable, compostable cutlery. It holds three 100-count packages of forks, spoons and knives.

Leanpath is a global food waste prevention solution that helps foodservice operators cut food waste in half, driving sustainability and profitability. The Leanpath program lets operators measure all wasted foods using automated food waste tracking devices. An online food waste dashboard provides reporting and guides the user to discover waste prevention opportunities.

The system includes behavior-change tools like automated goal setting, artificial intelligence (AI)-based reduction tips, food waste alerts and more. The typical foodservice outlet cuts its food waste by 50% or more using Leanpath, the Portland, Oregon-based company said, which translates to a 2% to 6% drop in food purchase costs and a reduction in a company’s carbon footprint.

The PathSpot hand scanner is the flagship product of the Plano, Texas-based company’s health and safety operating system for foodservice retailers. Users place their hands under the scanner, front and then back, and receive real-time detection of foodborne illness-causing contaminants, improving hand washing frequency and effectiveness. Tied to the scanners is a dashboard, available on- or off-premise, that gives key health and safety data.

There’s also remote temperature monitoring that provides temperature and humidity sensors for instant readings, data trending and automated alerts. The hand scanner is a National Restaurant Association 2023 Kitchen Innovations award winner.