What are heated serveover counters and why do I need one?

Heated serveover counters are a vital cog in the food service industry. They entice customers to make an impulse purchase and take hot food home with them. After all, who doesn’t love a hot lunch or a dinner cooked for you?

In a world where convenience and quality truly make or break businesses, heated serveover counters play a crucial role. They allow companies to maximise sales while ensuring customers enjoy a delicious hot meal.

Whether you run a café, deli or restaurant, heated serveover counters could make all the difference. This blog explores why you should invest in one and why it significantly enhances your operations and your customers’ experiences.

What is a heated serveover counter?

Heated serveover counters display pre-cooked food at a safe temperature, ready for customers to select, buy, and eat.

On that note, though, keeping food at a safe temperature is vital. It enhances texture and flavour, yes, but it’s also critical for food safety. The last thing you want is to make any of your customers ill. Heated serveover counters - like Interlevin's Bellini or Italia Evo models keep your cooked produce at temperatures that minimise bacterial growth, keeping them safe for the entire sales period. However, ensure your staff have all the relevant food safety training and regularly monitor the thermometer reading.

The display unit allows customers to view a variety of options – whatever you have in stock and ready for selling. They can easily browse your selections quickly and choose what they want.

Benefits of a heated serveover counter

A heated serveover counter could be a brilliant addition to your food business. They bring numerous benefits that could positively impact your bottom line and drive sales. We’ve compiled a few of them here.

• Maintain food quality – keeping pre-cooked items at the correct temperature inhibits bacterial growth. This ensures food safety for your clientele. Any food service establishment must adhere to these temperature requirements, as they significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
• Extend hold times – hold your hot food out (actively for sale) for longer. This means your staff can serve more customers without constantly cooking or restocking. This saves time and effort, allowing them to focus on more important tasks. A longer hold time also means a greater variety of display options, potentially increasing visual appeal and impulse purchases.
• Energy efficient designs – modern heated serveover units feature carefully designed setups. These minimise your expenditure on utility costs while supporting environmentally friendly practices and brand reputation.
• Reduce food waste – tying into extended hold times (mentioned above), you’ll find that a modern unit drastically reduces food waste. Items remain fresh and safe for extended periods, so you’ll have less to throw away. This means more food can be consumed, and less money is wasted on ingredients that didn’t sell.

How to choose a heated serveover counter

In reality, only you can choose the optimal heated serveover counter for your organisation. We recommend considering several factors, including those listed below:

• Menu type – if you primarily serve hot dishes (such as soups or sauces), opt for a bain-marie unit. These hold hot foods (especially those with liquids or sauces) at a constant temperature, ready for your servers to remove the lids and scoop or tong some out. However, a dry heater is more appropriate for items like pastries or cooked meats. A combination unit offers more flexibility, allowing you to showcase a variety of foods in one heated serveover counter display.
• Serving style – does your business approach revolve around customer self-service? If so, choose a counter with a design that encourages customer interaction and minimises potential injury. If your staff do all your serving from behind the counter, you have more freedom.
• Space availability – consider how much space you have in your premises. Heated serveover counters are available in all sorts of sizes, so make sure you fit one that fits your layout without overcrowding the area.
• Additional features you need – heated serveover counters are much more than hot display counters. You’ll find units with adjustable temperature settings, easier staff access, and a greater focus on attractive displays to catch customers’ eyes. Incorporate employee feedback on what features they would find most valuable.

Get your heated serveover counter from Fridgesmart

Heated serveover counters allow you to showcase your hot food, selling your customer base a warm and cosy lunch or evening in. If these units match your business goals, we’re convinced you’ll find them a worthwhile investment.

At Fridgesmart, we stock heated serveover counters from all the most trusted, recognised brands. We’re committed to delivering quality (next-day, if needed) units that actively drive sales, enhancing your relationship with your consumers simultaneously. That’s why we offer comprehensive warranties on all the products we stock.

For more information about our heated serveover counters or to ask any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our friendly team is on hand and ready 24/7. Make every meal a hot topic – grab a heated serveover counter today.