How Vollrath Equipment Improves Quality, Efficiency, and Safety at Rutter's Convenience Stores
Customers seem to expect more and more from their local convenience store. Luckily Rutter's, a convenience store chain on the east coast, is ready to deliver.
Rutter's serves just about everything you can imagine – from sandwiches to burgers, soups and salads to drinks and desserts. Whether you're shopping for breakfast, a late-night snack, or anything in between, you can find it at Rutter's.
"Coming into Rutter's, it was unique to see a convenience chain with the food service program that we have," says Chad White, a Food Service Category Manager for Rutter's. "We have a lot of unique items that you typically don't see in the convenience industry."
Keeping up with so many offerings and such high demand can be a challenge, so Rutter's relies on a variety of Vollrath equipment to help them get the job done.
We met with White and Robert Theimann, a Food Service Supervisor at Rutter's, to learn more about how Vollrath equipment helps them succeed.
Reliable Performance
Rutter's strives to redefine the convenience store experience and exceed their customers' high expectations. Theimann explains, "we offer good quality fresh food, and that's what the customers want, you know, they expect more."
Not only do their customers expect higher quality, but they want it at every hour of the day. Rutter's is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so their equipment needs the durability to withstand the constant operation.
Not all machines are designed for that high demand, so Rutter's is particular in the equipment they select. Rutter's needs equipment that can stand up to constant use while offering top-tier performance, and Vollrath was a perfect choice.
"It's becoming more and more standard restaurant equipment that we're using back there," says White.
Thiemann explains that they rely on Vollrath equipment for a wide range of items, both hot and cold. Everything from heating soups and grab-and-go items to chilling salad bar and sandwich ingredients is done with Vollrath equipment.
Rutter's uses the Vollrath induction rethermalizer to heat and hold their soups at perfect serving temperatures. It features induction technology, so it's powerful, reliable, and designed for constant use. It offers superior temperature control and easy operation.
Rutter's also uses the Vollrath drop-in cold wells to keep ingredients for their salads, sandwiches and more at ideal refrigerated temperatures. The strong stainless steel creates a sleek, sturdy exterior, and the reliable insulation maintains the cold temperature.
These Vollrath items, and more, are designed and constructed with durability, versatility, and efficiency in mind. They ensure superior performance for consistent results, simple operation, and easy cleaning.
Vollrath equipment, especially induction equipment, is incredibly efficient, which helps reduce operational costs. When equipment is on 24 hours a day, that energy bill can add up fast, and Vollrath equipment is key for Rutter's in keeping those costs down.
With Vollrath equipment, Rutter's can serve premium quality food items and keep up with demand without breaking the bank.
Clean and Safe
What else do convenience stores look for in their equipment? According to White, his priorities are ease of use, minimal upkeep, and ease of cleaning. The less supervision a piece of equipment requires, the more time they can spend serving their customers.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, ease of cleaning and single-use items became even more of a priority. Thiemann says, "standards of operation have changed. I don't think those things will change in the long run, I think those things will stick around."
With that in mind, Rutter's continues to invest in easy-to-clean and single-use items. One of White's favorite Vollrath items is precisely that: the LidSaver® 3 lid dispenser.
"As COVID has evolved, having the LidSaver has been a huge benefit," says White.
The LidSaver 3 lid dispenser ensures one-at-a-time dispensing. It keeps lids clean and sanitary and maintains a tidy appearance in the drink area.
"It's not pulling multiple lids out at a single time, you know, you don't find extra lids laying on the floor of the store or on the coffee bar, which you can't put back in the sleeve," says Theimann. It's a drastic reduction in waste, which creates a cleaner appearance, requires less upkeep, and saves money.
"The lids that it saves from doing single dispense probably pays for the LidSaver itself," says White.
As Rutter's looks to the future, White believes that many of the COVID safety protocols will continue to stick around.
"Every day working in this industry is different. It's always evolving, it's always a different story, there's always a new challenge," says Thiemann.
Both Thiemann and White are thankful that Vollrath equipment offers superior performance, energy efficiency, and COVID-friendly operation. They trust their Vollrath equipment to meet their needs and keep their customers happy, through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.