Best new products for fast food restaurants: Warewashers for plastic tableware, gourmet crispy chips and advanced hot holding

Fast food is big business, with ever more operators wanting a piece of the pie, such as recent UK entrants Carl’s Jr, Junk and Dave’s Hot Chicken.

 

In an increasingly crowded market, these quick service restaurants (QSR) need to be able to stand out, offering tasty food in the swiftest time possible, augmented with quality snack options that don’t require any preparation.

 

Therefore, we have rounded up the most innovative recent food and equipment introductions for quick service venues.

 

Find new fast food and appliance options below.

 

 

Swift washing for single use plastic tableware

 

Swedish warewasher brand Wexiödisk has introduced the Re-turn washing and drying system to the UK market. Developed to help event caterers, fast food operators and QSRs comply with single-use plastics regulations, the system can wash and dry reusable plastic items such as plates, glasses, cutlery and food containers in just 60-90 seconds.

 

The dishwashing basket is designed with a smooth grid cover to secure plastic items during washing and drying, and the appliance is equipped with a fan to efficiently and quickly dry items. Made from durable stainless steel, the complete Re-turn system consists of a hood dishwasher, customisable drying zone and roller conveyor.

 

Trade price £17,500

 

Gourmet chips that stay crispy

 

JJ Foodservice has unveiled Gourmet Extra Crunchy Chips, which can be fried, baked or air fried. Suitable for busy restaurants and takeaways, these chips are designed to be flavoursome and crunchy and to stay crispy and warmer for longer. The new 3/8 chips come in four 2.27kg bags per case, available in skin-on and skin-off options. The chips join JJ’s recently-launched Halal Smash Burger Pucks (3oz) – 48 x 85g, made with minced beef and designed to help restaurants meet demand for the smash burger trend.

 

Trade price Case of 4 x 2.27kg bags, £13.99

 

Hot holding for fried chicken

 

The new Henny Penny HC5 hot holding cabinet can keep a range of menu items (mainly fried chicken), hot and tasty until service. With dual fans and ventilated side racks, allowing hot air to circulate evenly throughout the cabinet, the unit includes a digital display, and operators can time up to five shelves separately with a countdown timer control. The new HC5 is a half-size heated holding cabinet designed to provide holding for a lower investment. Efficiency features include an LED lighting option for glass door cabinets, with fully insulated cabinet and tight-sealing self-closing door. Partial pan removal and magnetic closures contribute to convenient workflow.

 

Trade price: £8,550

 

Chocolate treats on the go

 

Single-origin dark chocolate brand Cox & Co has launched 15g bars in four flavours: Miso & Caramel (47% cocoa), Blood Orange Crunch (60%), Mint Crunch (60%) and Plain Milk (41%). Crafted from Colombian cacao, the bars are made with Luker Chocolate blended with superfoods to create flavour combinations that provide a quick sweet treat for people on the go. The bars utilise paper flow wrappers, helping to reduce confectionery packaging waste that currently ends up in landfill or contaminates current recycling.

 

Trade price 70p per bar

 

Sugar free sweet snacking

 

Oh My Gum! has introduced Bonbons by Oh My Gum!, a healthier option that caters to the growing demand for clean-label, mindful snacking. The hard sugar-free sweets are made with isomalt as the sweetener, accompanied by simple clean ingredients and natural flavourings. Bonbons by Oh My Gum! come in three fruit flavours: raspberry, strawberry and peach. Packaged in eye-catching recyclable stand up pouches, each pack is filled with 10 individually wrapped sweets.

 

Trade price £1.67 per pack