Hopkins has transformed the way FRYZ Fish & Chips in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, operates with a state-of-the-art frying range and more. Rob Brownlee, who owns the takeaway with wife Caz, shares how this fresh approach has improved their business
Our old dutch range had come to the last days of its use, I think anyone would agree 19 years is excellent service for any commercial catering equipment.
It was time for a change and that change would take us in a new refreshing and an innovative direction.
However, now there are new constraints, life was different 19 years ago and what we need now is different. Our landlords insisted on fire suppression as a major addition to the requirement. Energy costs, food costs, labour costs, overheads etc. (need I continue) have all risen. As any operator of a successful fish and chips establishment knows customer demands are also on the rise, people want more, better, different and its has to be great every time!
Long story short, we were in the market for a new range and that is a daunting task, as we and our team would be working with this new equipment for the perceivable future, possibly a couple of decades or more, we wanted to get it right, we had to get it right.
In my previous career I worked as a research mathematician, impressive I know, so my ideas of what would be needed lead me to start researching which manufacturers range would be taking the place of our old dutch?
Refurbing the old range was not economically viable due to the prohibitive costs of replacing the pans and retrofitting fire suppression was near on impossible to justify financially, plus it did not seem to work that well for us and at the end of the day we would still be left with an old range.
There was no denying it, we needed a new range, it was as simple as that.
In walked Ferhat Akkaya of Hopkins RGM Leeds, a British company that has been fabricating frying ranges since 1957. Hopkins has been under Ferhat’s stewardship since December 2018 and with that he has introduced an intoxicating passion and has increased demands of himself and others in his company to do better and be better.
We invited Hopkins in to make its recommendations, new range yes, fire suppression yes, but hold on a new counter, we had not planned for that.
Ferhat had made a case for a completely new stainless steel counter with built in illuminated branding, a counter that would say more about our business and commitment to excellence than anything else, he even designed in a sauce station so our customers could serve themselves. To be honest we were stunned, it was a stroke of genius.
It showed us how Ferhat thinks, he has decades of operating experience, this experience is a major differentiator when dealing with Hopkins, they know what a fryer needs and wants even if that operators doesn’t see it at first.
Hopkins under Ferhat’s ownership has been innovating and the list is impressive: high efficiency burners, four stage oil filtration, bespoke hand made ranges that are perfect for the application in mind, and a dedication to customer delight that is refreshing in this day and age. All this and a proud to be British ethos to boot. What’s not to like?
We could not resist such an excellent package, three pan (fourth generation) range with two chip boxes, built in four stage oil filtration, fire suppression, potato peeler and not forgetting that beautiful stainless steel individually branded counter that has made us feel so proud of our shop and business.
A note about the two chip boxes, this has been invaluable when it comes to times of high demand. We just sail through and flex up without breaking a sweat. The four stage filtration has also been a God send, we are saving on oil and our product is better than ever. Our customers are happy and we are happy! Mission accomplished
If you are a passionate and motivated operator looking for the very best in food preparation and cooking equipment and demand value for money, reliability, longevity and outstanding customer service, then look no further.
Hopkins has got it right. My experience has been fantastic and I feel chuffed at the choice I made. I want to take this opportunity to thank Ferhat and Emma Akkaya and all the team at Hopkins RGM Leeds for helping us modernise our business and make it fit for purpose for the foreseeable future.
You have simultaneously modernised Hopkins without loosing that all important legacy and heritage of a Great British manufacturing brand, bravo!
At Hopkins we can help you with more than frying ranges, we also manufacture in the UK peelers, chippers, batter mixers and stand-alone oil filtration units. To find out more and to discuss your particular requirements please contact us on 0113 257 7934 or e-mail info@hopkins.biz. You can also visit our website at www.hopkins.biz and our Facebook page by clicking here.
