2016 was a significant year for Antunes with several milestones, awards and exciting developments. Before we move into 2017, we wanted to take a look back at all that has happened this year.
New brand, same commitment to customers
One of the biggest changes in 2016 was our name. In April, we announced that we would be rebranding as Antunes — a name that still honors our founder, Augie J. Antunes, while elevating our family values and vision and positioning us for strategic growth.
The corporate rebranding also included eliminating the names of the sub-brands, ROUNDUP® and VIZION™, and grouping these products into cooking solutions and filtration solutions categories. Additionally, we unveiled a new logo and announced a new tagline, “Expect Success.”
New Antunes team members
Dan Hartlein was named president of Antunes in September of this year. Hartlein joins Antunes after more than 14 years as executive vice president of Minneapolis based Twin City Fan Companies Ltd. and COO of the Clarage division. Glenn Bullock remains as CEO, focused on Antunes’ strategies and vision and on maintaining the strong corporate culture.
In November, Darren A. Arvidson joined Antunes as international sales manager, responsible for sales in the Middle East and India, as well as select countries in the European market.
Exciting product roll-out
In September, we announced the roll-out of our Egg Station to a national bagel and coffee chain. We partnered with Einstein Bros. Bagels on the development of a custom Egg Station, which allows the chain to serve freshly cracked eggs. The product improved the quality and consistency of the eggs served as part of Einstein Bros. Bagels’ menu, and today, the Egg Stations are used to cook both shelled eggs and liquid egg whites for the chain’s variety of egg sandwiches.
Award-winning company and products
We work hard to make each and every one of our customers successful through our unwavering commitment to providing quality products, and we are honored when these efforts are rewarded by our customers.
In 2016, we were recognized by McDonald’s as part of the chain’s 2016 Supplier Energy Efficiency Challenge. Antunes was honored with the “Energy Leadership in Kitchen Equipment” award for delivering innovation and energy savings with the rollout of a new bun toaster to the McDonald’s system.
Additionally, Antunes was recognized with two corporate awards this year. In November, we were named one of Chicago’s Top Workplaces 2016 by the Chicago Tribune, ranking 22nd out of the companies in the midsize category. In December, Antunes also received Exporter of the Year honors at the Governor’s Export Awards, presented by the Illinois Department of Commerce.
Continued focus on social responsibility
Antunes is committed to being socially responsible and supporting the important work of charitable organizations.
Since naming Splash as our corporate charity in 2011, we have supported the organization through financial donations from corporate initiatives and events. Our annual golf outing, which benefits Splash, raised $47,000 — the highest amount to date. In addition to the golf outing, we participated in The Splash Effect of World Water Day 2016, a fundraising campaign that ran between World Water Day, March 22, and Earth Day, April 22. In total, we contributed more than $75,000 to this worthy organization in 2016.
We also donated money to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for each step that team members took during the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention, held in April. We achieved our goal of raising $5,000 by walking at least 500,000 steps.
Participation at customer and industry events
From Pizza Expo in March to NACS Show in October, Antunes team members were busy building relationships at events. Throughout the year, we participated in a dozen customer shows and six industry trade shows, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Expansions to our sales network and our operations
In October, we broke ground on an expansion of the manufacturing facility that will add approximately 55,000 square feet to our Carol Stream, Illinois, headquarters. The additional space will accommodate doubling the size of the engineering lab and sheet metal fabrication area, as well as constructing a state-of-the-art water treatment lab.
In a different kind of expansion, we added Forbes Hever & Wallace, Inc. (FH&W) to our sales rep network, expanding our presence in Texas and Oklahoma.
It’s been a great year, and we thank all of our customers, team members and partners for the roles that they’ve played in making all of this happen. Here’s to continued success in 2017!
To see all of the news and press from 2016, visit the News section of our website.
Q&A: Antunes’ In-House Repair Program
